Mild tremor measuring 3.3 hits Jharkhand

Ranchi, Mar 22: Thousands of people paced up and down roads restlessly till the break of dawn today in the capital besides several other places in the state after a mild earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale struck Jharkhand last night.

The Meteorological Department today told UNI that the temblor was epicentered at Latehar distrtict that occurred at about 0005 hrs.

Tremors were felt in the Kanke area in the state capital, chief metereologist J K Sharma said.

With night progressing, rumours of another possible quake spread like wildfire, making thousands of panic-stricken people walking in groups on roads throughout the night here.

Mr Sharma said the most of Jharkhand fell under zone-2 or zone-3 which was relatively less susceptible to major tremors unlike the Himalayan range and the NE region that came under zone-5.

Although no fatalities or damage to property were reported from any part of the state, police said.

UNI