Fresh earthquake prediction, govt acts now

Guwahati, Sep 09 (UNI) The earthquake fear refuses to die down in Asom as a Madras University geologist altered his prediction claiming the quake is likely to hit the state within September 11.

Mr N.Venkatanathan on September 6 had said that a tremor with its epicentre 15km southwest of Dibrugarh was to hit at 0821 hours on September 8. His forecast was based on planetary alignments, similar to the one that prevailed at the time of the devastating 1950 earthquake in the state.

Meanwhile, the Asom government issued notifications reqeusting the people not to panic. The governnment called a newsconference and told reporters about its latest move against the prediction.

Scientists in the state and other parts of the country rallied to pacify the people, stating that earthquakes could not be predicted.

However, the people prepared for an eventuality, with many staying awake overnight and others coming to open spaces before the stated time.

The Northeast comes under the Seismic Zone V. Recent sporadic tremors of mild intensity across the region had trigerred fears as the state had not witnessed a major one for many years.

The geologist yesterday apologised for the panic he had created.

However, not one to leave his stand, said the earthquake would hit the stand within the next three days. While he did not specify the place or the time, he decreased his 70 per cent probabilty by a marginal five per cent, bringing down the chances of the quake to 65 per cent.

Till then, the people of the state can only wait and pray that the quake would by-pass the region as it did yesterday.

UNI SG PC AB 1623