Mysterious rumblings unnerve 8 Junagadh villages

Junagadh, Oct 9 (UNI) About eight villages in Talala tehsil of the district have been experiencing mysterious rumbling sounds for the past 10 days, causing panic among the people.

Yesterday, these sounds were heard in Moruka, Suruva, Vadla, Akol Vadi, Jasapar, Haripar, Rasoolpara and Hadamatiya villages among others. These villages fall within a radius of 15 km. Villagers complained that these blasts-like sounds are occurring regularly.

However, yesterday, when Jaspar experienced 15 blasts-like sounds, people came rushing out of their houses, while vessels in their houses rattled loudly. Cracks have developed on the walls of many houses too.

Former sarpanch of Jaspar Okhabhai Jivabhai said today he had informed Talala tehsildar and urged him to take necessary precautions.

Talala mamlatdar Amiben Joshi told UNI that she had explained the villagers that the sounds were not due to an earthquake and there was, therefore, no need to panic as it would cause no harm.

She said the sounds could have been caused due to heavy monsoon rains, which have been lashing the region, and also due to lots of water seeping underground that could have disturbed the airpockets within the bowels of the earth and created the rumblings.

Ms Joshi said she had also informed about the incidents to the Junagadh collector's office and the Gujarat Disaster Management Agency (GSDMA) at Gandhinagar.

GSDMA in-charge Rajesh Mathur had allayed the fears, saying that there was no earthquake. The seismographs kept in the villages had not recorded any such occurrance.

She further said Mr Mathur has assured to send a team, if required.

Incidentally, another village Haripur had experienced similar sounds three years ago and a team from Delhi had visited the village and stayed for some days. A seismograph too was installed, but no conclusion could be drawn for the sounds.

Interestingly, the rumbling sounds had begun after the massive earthquake in Kutch on January 26, 2001.

UNI