Earthquake of magnitude 3.4 hits Karnataka's Hassan district

HASSAN: Hundreds of people ran out of their houses in remote villages of Holenarasipur taluk in the district in the early hours of Thursday following a moderate earthquake. The incident was reported at 4.37am.
Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) authorities confirmed the incident.
According to a press release issued by the center, an earthquake of magnitude 3.4 was recorded in the Hassan district.
The epicenter of this earthquake was located at 0.8km NNE of Maluganahalli village, Nagaranahalli Grama Panchayat in Holenarasipur taluk of the district.
"As per the seismic intensity map of the said earthquake from the epicentre, the intensity observed is moderate and the tremor might be felt up to a maximum radial distance of 40-50km from the epicentre. This type of earthquake do not create any harm to the local community, although there might be slight shaking observed locally. As the epicentre falls in seismic zone II, the chances of occurrence of earthquakes is very less and the possibility of damage is low. As the region is void of any structural discontinuities as per the tectonic map, the community need not panic as the intensity observed is moderate and not destructive," stated in the release.
Meanwhile, the Holenarasipur police visited a few villages to infuse confidence among the locals. According to the initial reports, the tremors were felt in at least 17 villages including parts of the Holenarasipur town.
Meanwhile, tremors were felt in parts of the neighboring Mandya district also which is confirmed by Mandya DC Aswathi S.
"Tremors felt in Madapura, Gondihalli, and Chinnenahalli villages of Kikkeri hobli," she said.
According to officials from the KSNDMC, tremors were felt in these villages as they are near to the epicenter in Hassan.
Meanwhile, locals informed loud noise and tremors in these villages between 4.30am and 4.45am. Many residents rushed out of their houses in fear.