Bhatkal: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Uttara Kannada district, Ms. K. Lakshmipriya, has dismissed reports of earthquake tremors near the Kumta-Sirsi border areas, clarifying that there have been no reports of seismic activity in the district.
Social media rumors claimed that tremors lasting three seconds were felt in areas such as Devimane Ghat, Mattighatta, Sampakhanda, Hegdekhatta (Sirsi Taluk), Chouti (Yellapur Taluk), Kansur, Tattikai, Mavingundi, and Halgiri (Siddapur Taluk) at 11:42 AM on Sunday. The rumors sparked panic and concern among residents. Some reports speculated that a minor earthquake in the Indian Ocean, at a depth of 10 kilometers, might have caused tremors in the Western Ghats region.
However, DC Lakshmipriya clarified that no seismic activity had been reported in the district. She explained that the tremors were likely caused by ongoing highway construction activities in the Kumta-Sirsi region, including hill cutting and rock blasting. These activities might have caused vibrations, which were mistakenly perceived as tremors.
The district administration, upon noticing the reports on social media and TV channels, reached out to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) for verification. According to the KSNDMC, no seismic activity was recorded on the Richter scale in the region during this period.
The DC urged the public not to panic or believe unverified information. She also encouraged residents to report any unusual occurrences related to tremors directly to the District Disaster Management Centre.
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