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Consistency of tremors worrying: Experts

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

A fresh tremor of 4.8 on the Richter Scale shook Bhuj and its surrounding areas in Gujarat at 1706 hrs on Thursday. It had its epicentre 30 km east of Bhuj.

Additional Director General of Indian Meteorological Department Dr S K Srivastava said: "This tremor was felt in most parts of the state and it was followed by another of 3.8 on the Richter Scale."

Dr Srivastava said his department would keep a close watch on the situation for the next 48 hours because unless the aftershocks go well below 3 on the Richter Scale, the possibility of a shock of 5 and above can not be ruled out.

"The consistency of tremors is worrying. It seems what was just a ligament has now developed into a major fault," he said.

When asked why an expert group led by Deputy Director General, IMD, S N Bhattacharya had filed only a three-page report on the Gujarat quake, Srivastava said: "Right now we are monitoring the seismological activity in Gujarat. A detailed report will be submitted later."

He also maintained that the January 26 earthquake was of 6.9 on the Richter scale and not 7.7 as suggested by some US seismologists.

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