Watch: Scary visuals show moment when 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit Telangana's Mulugu

HYDERABAD: An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale struck Mulugu district in Telangana at 7.27am on Wednesday, according to the National Center for Seismology. Tremors were felt across multiple districts, prompting residents to evacuate buildings.
Mulugu superintendent of police Shabarish told TOI that no immediate damage was reported. "Our police teams are patrolling and trying to ascertain the impact, but so far, there is no damage," he said.

District forest officer Rahul Jadhav noted the brief duration of the tremor, adding that the epicentre was approximately 7 kilometres from an area recently affected by massive tree falls during heavy rains.

The Bhookamp app recorded the earthquake at a depth of 40 kilometres. CCTV footage from Bhadrachalam and Mulugu captured the tremors, which lasted between 6 to 10 seconds. Residents, startled by the vibrations, rushed out of their homes.
Also See: Telangana Earthquake
Historically, Telangana has experienced seismic activity, although earthquakes of this magnitude are uncommon. In April 2020, a 4.8-magnitude earthquake occurred north of Ramagundam.
According to CSIR-NGRI director and chief seismologist Prakash Kumar, data from various seismic stations confirm the earthquake's epicentre was in the Medaram region of Mulugu district.
He told TOI, "The magnitude is around 5, as per local observations. The area falls within the Godavari rift zone, where seismic activity has been observed previously. The magnitude is not significant enough to pose a serious threat to installations, though vibrations were felt across the region."
Also See: Nagpur Earthquake
Kumar further noted that reports of tremors extended to Hyderabad, about 250 kilometres away. "Even in Hyderabad, minor vibrations were felt," he added.