SANGUEM, JAN 6
Mild tremors were felt in some parts of Sanguem taluka on Thursday morning, causing panic among residents.
The tremors were felt at about 6.40 am and again at about 11.05 am at Uguem, Valkini and Bhati in Sanguem taluka.
According to the residents, the noise and the effect of tremor was particularly high in Uguem and its surroundings, as some people rushed out from their houses.
Bhati Sarpanch Uday Naik also claimed the mild tremor and the loud noise to have been felt in Bhati.
Naik claimed there to have been complaints of some empty bottles to have fallen on the floor at the time of the tremor.
The school children, who were on their way to school too claimed to have felt tremors and the loud noise.
When contacted, officials at Sangeum Mamlatdar’s office stated that there was no confirmation till 5.30 pm of any tremors in the taluka from the Department of Meteorology.
Even Quepem Deputy Collector’s office was in the dark of the tremor, which otherwise had shocked most of the people in Sanguem town, Uguem, Valkini and Bhati.
Meanwhile, fears are expressed by people in Sanguem over safety of the Selaulim Dam.
There were rumours in the town of some cracks being developed to the side walls of the Selaulim Dam, but the same could not be ascertained from the officials as the office looking after the maintenance of the dam was closed for the day.
When contacted, Quepem Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes feigned ignorance of any tremors being felt within the jurisdiction of his office and that no official intimation from any of the lower offices to have come to his office informing about the tremors.
OUR PANJIM REPORTER ADDS: Although the residents of Sanguem felt tremors, the State Meteorological department has ruled out the occurrence of earthquake in Sanguem taluka on Thursday.
“We have no such information. Also there is no record of any earthquake in Sanguem area,” Met department in-charge K V Singh said.
He said that the people have heard some sound after the tremors.
“There is no sound when earthquake happens,” Singh added.
