Series of Earthquakes in Nanded Since 13 Nov 06

A series of minor tremors have been felt in south-central Maharashtra, in the town of Nanded (population 4,30,733) since 13 November 2006. Based media reports & on felt reports received by this website, activity in this sequence increased notably on 31 March 2007 and reduced by May only to pick up once more in the end of October continuing into December. The strongest events were felt on 31 March 2007 and then on 12 November 2007 & 14 December 2007 causing widespread panic. A total of 475 events have been felt since late 2006. Since the first tremors, brontides (natural explosive sounds) have been heard in the town of Nanded with or without being accompanied by felt tremors. Residents in northern parts of Nanded town that has been worst hit by the tremors have moved to safer areas or are staying outdoors in temporarily erected shacks in front of their homes. Following the tremors in December 2007 there have been reports of changes in colour of water discharged from a tubewell in Nanded.
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Earthquakes swarms can be defined as a series of earthquakes in the same magnitude range that are closely spaced in time and originating in the same region but devoid of a mainshock (principal large event). They can last from as little as a few hours to as long as several months (eg. Matsushiro, Japan, 1965-1966). Swarms can be precursory or non-precursory but establishing either is only feasible in hindsight. Earthquake swarms have occurred in other parts of India including Jind (Haryana) in 2003 and Bhavnagar (Gujarat) in 2000. The exact cause of the subterranean sounds is not clear. It is a possibility that they are similar to Brontides or "Barisal Guns" often heard in Bengal. Such occurrences have been reported from other parts of Maharashtra in the last decade, eg. Bansur in 1996. Preliminary epicentral co-ordinates of the events on 31 March, 12 November and 14 December are available from the IMD. The approximate locations of these events based on these co-ordinates are given herewith. Please be aware that these are preliminary epicentral locations and might be erroneous (especially for the 14 December event).
The event on Saturday, 31 March 2007 at 20:57 PM local time (15:27 UTC) was centred: 2.2 kms E of Kapsi (Maharashtra), India,17.3 kms SE of Nanded (Maharashtra), India,37.1 kms SW of Bhokar (Maharashtra), India,59.5 kms WSW of Bhainsa (Maharashtra), India,72 kms ESE of Parbhani (Maharashtra), India,81.7 kms WNW of Nizamabad (Andhra Pradesh), India,110 kms ENE of Latur (Maharashtra), India.The event on Monday, 12 November 2007 at 20:18 PM local time (14:48 UTC) was centred: 2.5 NE of Ardhpur (Maharashtra), India,18.5 kms NNE of Nanded (Maharashtra), India.30 kms WNW of Bhokar (Maharashtra), India.54.2 kms SSE of Hingoli (Maharashtra), India.70.6 kms S of Pusad (Maharashtra), India.101 kms NNW of Nizamabad (Andhra Pradesh), India,132 kms NE of Latur (Maharashtra), India.The event on Friday, 14 December 2007 at 17:57 PM local time (12:27 UTC) was centred:5.4 kms E of Ghogri (Maharashtra), India,9.5 kms NNE of Bhokar (Maharashtra), India,22.7 kms SSE of Hadgaon (Maharashtra), India,33.8 kms NW of Bhainsa (Maharashtra), India,44.7 kms ENE of Nanded (Maharashtra), India,75.2 kms SE of Hingoli (Maharashtra), India,81.9 kms NW of Nizamabad (Andhra Pradesh), India,97.6 kms E of Parbhani (Maharashtra), India,155 kms NE of Latur (Maharashtra), India.
NOTABLE EVENTSListed below are events that were felt or recorded since this swarm peaked in March 2007. Minor damage and a few injuries were reported as a result of the tremors in Nanded. In March 2007 and April 2007, residents in northern parts of Nanded town that has been worst hit by the tremors have moved to safer areas or are staying outdoors.
20 December 2007Felt reports indicate the occurrence of three tremors at approximately 01:20 AM IST, 03:36 AM IST and 03:44 AM IST that were felt by many persons. The event at 03:36 AM IST appears to the strongest of the three, as it was felt by many persons, shook furniture in houses and disturbed standing water.19 December 2007Felt reports indicate the occurrence of three tremors at approximately 01:44 AM IST, 02:13 AM IST and 03:24 AM IST that were felt by many persons and disturbed standing water. Further tremors were experienced at 06:22 AM IST, 10:30 AM IST, 12:13 PM IST, 14:44 PM IST and 15:34 PM IST. The effect of these tremors was the greatest in the Taroda and Workshop areas of Nanded. Brontides were heard on at least five occasions during the day.
17 December 2007A M2.7 tremor was felt for close to 17-seconds at 03:52 AM IST that was strong enough to wake up those asleep. Hanging objects were disturbed, minor cracks developed in some buildings and at least one wall collapsed. Many people ran outdoors in panic and the accompanying blast was heard all over Nanded including at Bhagyanagar, Kailashnagar, Shivajinagar, Srinagar, Viveknagar, Workshop and Yeshwant College. It was also felt at Ardhapur, CIDCO-HUDCO, Malegaon, Purna, Vadhala, Vajegaon. It was followed by a M1.3 event at 04:05 AM IST. By the end of this day, a brontides were heard on a total of 46 occasions.
15 December 2007Explosion-like sounds were heard at 02:46 AM IST and again at 07:17 AM IST. The first detonation was very audible in the Taroda area.
14 December 2007In total, 10 tremors were felt on this date. These were at (IST) 02:51 AM, 08:14 AM, 13:07 PM, 15:38 PM, 16:36 PM, 17:41 PM, 17:42 PM and 17:57 PM. The last at 17:57 IST had a magnitude of M2.7 and caused minor damage to a few houses in the Yeshwantnagar area of the Nanded. Discoloured water is understood to have been discharged from a tubewell in the same area and samples were taken by officials from two local colleges. Many people rushed outdoors when this event struck. It was felt at Bhavsar Chowk, Chaitanyanagar, CIDCO-HUDCO, the District Court area, Ganeshnagar, Kailashnagar, Maniknagar, Sinchan Bhavan, Srinagar, Vajirabad & Viveknagar as well as in the neighbouring villages such as Malegaon. In the Srinagar and Police Colony areas of Nanded, people spent the night in makeshift tents put up hastily.
6 December 2007A total of 10 tremors were felt in Nanded on this date. These were recorded at (IST) 04:59 AM, 05:04 AM, 11:28 AM, 11:32 AM, 11:57 AM, 16:08 PM and 16:50 PM. Another three events were felt thereafter but the times of these are unavailable. The magnitudes of the event at 05:04 AM and 16:08 PM were reported as being M1.3 and M1.2.
8 December 2007Two events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
7 December 2007Five events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.6 December 2007Twelve events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.4 December 2007One event is reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.27 November 2007A mild shock at 12:30 PM IST that caused a mild trembling that was felt by many people.
24 November 2007Two events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.22 November 2007One event is reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.21 November 2007Six events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.20 November 2007Fourteen events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.19 November 2007Seven events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.17 November 2007Six events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.16 November 2007Nine events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.21 November 2007Two events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.14 November 2007Fourty-nine events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.13 November 2007Explosion-like sounds, sometimes accompanied by tremors, were felt in the Snehanagar, Srinagar, Taroda & Viveknagar among other places in Nanded town early on the morning of 13 November. They were reported at (IST) 01:44 AM, 01:46 AM, 02:15 AM, 02:42 AM, 06:25 AM, 06:27 AM, 08:06 AM, 08:25 AM, 10:15 AM, 12:13 AM, 13:25 PM, 13:40 PM, 15:43 PM and at 17:52 PM. In total, 40 events are reported to have been recorded on this date.
12 November 2007Several mild tremors were felt in the town of Nanded and in villages within a 10-kilometre radius of the town on the evening of 12 November 2007. The first was felt at 19:57 IST (14:27 UTC) and was followed by events at 19:58 IST (14:28 UTC), 20:17 IST (14:47 UTC) and 21:17 IST (15:47 UTC). By the following morning i.e. at 5 AM on 13 November, a total of 44 tremors were felt in the region. The tremor at 20:18 PM was the largest and was felt in the Nanded area for 6-7 seconds. It is thought to be one of the strongest and most widely felt event in several months. Walls developed cracks, window panes were broken in some instances, light furniture was displaced and traffic came to a halt. Power supply failed in parts of the town adding to the panic that resulted in many running outdoors. In an isolated instance, the roof of a house on Ramrao Pawar Road in the Srinagar area of Nanded is thought to have given way and collapsed without resulting in any injuries. This event was felt throughout Nanded including at Ashoknagar Jangamwadi, Babanagar, Bhagyanagar, Gyneshwarnagar, Kailashnagar, Police Colony, Prabhatnagar, Ravinagar, Shyamnagar, Srinagar, Vidhyanagar and Yeshwantnagar. Utensils fell in several houses in the Sambhaji Chowk area near Sidco. This tremor was also felt in the adjoining villages of Bhokar Phata, Dabhad, Limbgaon, Pimpalgaon and Shelgaon in the Ardhpur taluka. Frightened residents of Nanded spend the entire night outdoors filling open spaces such at that in the Police Colony and on Ramrao Pawar Road in fear of further and perhaps stronger earthquakes. In total, 37 events are reported to have been recorded on this date.
11 November 2007Twelve events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.19 October 2007Two mild tremors were felt at 7 AM IST and 9 AM IST that was felt by persons who were awake. Hanging objects were disturbed and light furniture was visibly shaken. In addition, forty events are reported to have been recorded on this date.
16 April 2007Two tremors were experienced on Monday, 16 April 2007. The first was felt at night and the second at dawn. The tremor that was felt during the night occurred in the midst of a thunder storm and added to the panic. These tremors were felt at Ashoknagar, Jangamwadi, Kailashnagar, Nizam Colony, Prabhatnagar, Srinagar, Vidhyanagar and Viveknagar in Nanded.10 April 2007Three tremors were recorded on Tuesday, 10 April 2007. These included a magnitude 0.7 at 02:17 IST (20:47 UTC), a magnitude 0.5 at 03:04 IST (21:34 UTC), a magnitude 0.3 at 06:53 IST (01:13 UTC) and a magnitude 0.8 at 11:20 IST (05:50 UTC).9 April 2007Seven tremors were recorded on Monday, 9 April 2007. These included a magnitude 1.1 at 01:47 IST (20:17 UTC), a magnitude 0.5 at 01:48 IST (20:18 UTC), a magnitude 0.5 at 02:59 IST (21:29 UTC), a magnitude 0.5 at 04:53 IST (23:23 UTC), a magnitude 0.3 at 05:19 IST (23:49 UTC), a magnitude 0.5 at 09:58 IST (04:28 UTC) and a magnitude 0.3 at 10:49 IST (05:19 UTC).8 April 2007Five tremors were recorded on Sunday, 8 April 2007. All events had magnitudes lower than 1.0, i.e., a magnitude 0.3 at 02:51 IST (21:21 UTC), a magnitude 0.5 at 5:29 IST (23:59 UTC), magnitude 0.5 at 11:43 IST (06:23 UTC), a magnitude 0.7 at 12:04 IST (06:55 UTC) and a magnitude 0.5 at 15:30 IST (10:00 UTC). This was followed by a magnitude 1.7 event at 20:03 IST (14:33 UTC), a magnitude 1.2 event at 20:06 IST (14:36 UTC), a magnitude 0.5 event at 21:05 IST (15:35 UTC), a magnitude 0.5 event at 21:36 IST (16:06 UTC) and a magnitude 0.5 event at 23:15 IST (17:45 UTC).7 April 2007Two tremors were recorded on Saturday, 7 April 2007. The first occurred at 22:20 IST (16:50 UTC) and had a magnitude of 1.3. This was followed within 10-minutes by another smaller event at 22:30 IST (17:00 UTC) and had a magnitude of 0.5. A "Homhavan" and "Purnahuti" Yagnas were organized along with the singing of "bhajans" by the Srinagar Mitramandal in Nanded town to pray for the situation to calm down on this day.5 April 2007Although no new tremors were recorded on 4 April, four minor micro events were recorded on 5 April. The first earthquake with a magnitude of 0.7 was recorded at 07:18 IST (01:38 UTC). This was followed by a magnitude 0.1 event at 10:09 IST (04:39 UTC), a magnitude 1.0 at 14:24 IST (08:54 UTC) and lastly, a magnitude 0.7 at 17:33 IST (12:03 UTC).3 April 2007On 3 April, a loud report was heard along with a tremor at 19:44 PM IST (14:14 UTC) and was followed by another shock within five minutes sending people running outdoors in fear. It had a magnitude reported variously between 2.0 and 3.2. In total, sixteen events are reported to have been recorded on this date.2 April 2007Utensils fell and broke in a house in the Viveknagar area during tremors on 2 April 2007. In total, eight events are reported to have been recorded on this date.1 April 2007Another event of M1.2 was recorded at 05:33 IST (23:53 UTC) on 1 April 2007 while other tremors were felt at 03:40 IST (22:10 UTC), 04:35 IST (23:05 UTC) and around 9 IST (03:30 UTC). In total, nine events are reported to have been recorded on this date.
31 March 2007
The residents of Nanded were startled by loud explosions that were often accompanied by mild tremors on 31 March 2007. The first report was heard at 05:10 AM local time (23:40 UTC. Local time henceforth denoted by IST) and was audible throughout the city including at Ashoknagar, Ayurvedic College, Chaitanyanagar, Ganeshnagar, Gowardhan Ghat Road, Jangamwadi, Kushinagar, Lumbininagar, Mahavir Society, Nizam Colony, Patanurkarnagar, Prabhatnagar, Pretamnagar, Police Colony, Sambhajinagar, Saptgiri Colony, Shivajinagar, Someshwarnagar, Srinagar, Taroda Naka, Vidhyanagar, Vishnunagar, Viveknagar, Wazirabad and Yashwantnagar. Many people were woken up and some ran outdoors in panic. Cracks developed in kuccha houses as well as in a few houses in the Srinagar area of the city. In a few instances, loose items were knocked over in shops. Kitchen utensils and doors were heard rattling loudly. In the Police Colony, employees and their families went outdoors and remained in the open. One child was slightly injured in the panic that ensued in this part of the town. The frequent tremors have compelled people all over Nanded town to spend the night outdoors. This was followed by several explosion-like noises throughout the day and most notably at 06:45 IST (01:15 UTC), 11:50 IST (06:40 UTC), 12:46 IST (07:16 UTC) and 14:42 IST (09:12 UTC). The IMD reported a M2.8 event later that day at 20:57 IST (15:27 UTC) while the seismological observatory at Latur recorded a M1.3 event at 12:46 IST (07:16 UTC) and a M2.0 event at 14:42 IST (09:12 UTC) in the Nanded region. During the tremor at 20:57 IST part of the ceiling of a house in the Mayur Vihar area of the town to collapsed and injured a woman. This tremor was strongly felt in most of Nanded and shook buildings. In total, eighteen events are reported to have been recorded on this date.
21 December 2006Two events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
18 December 2006One event is reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
12 December 2006Six events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
11 December 2006Five events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
10 December 2006Seven events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
9 December 2006Thirteen events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
7 December 2006Five events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
6 December 2006Three events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
1 December 2006Two events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
28 November 2006One event is reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
21 November 2006One event is reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
20 November 2006One event is reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
19 November 2006One event is reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
14 November 2006Two events are reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
13 November 2006One event is reported to have been recorded. Felt information lacking.
References01) India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi.02) Macroseismic information has been compiled by the ASC from reports by local media and local NGO personnel.Page CitationInformation on this page may be reproduced in print or electronically but it is requested that a citation be given to this website in the form of a link i.e. "www.asc-india.org".Map DisclaimerInternational boundaries of India (especially Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) on the displayed map are from Google Maps. These do not conform to the external boundaries of India recognized by the Survey of India. That they are displayed on this page via Google Maps, is only for display purposes and this should not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of these boundaries by the Amateur Seismic Centre (ASC).