Mild tremors rock Tirupur villages

TIRUPUR: Many villages in Mulanur block near Dharapuram experienced mild tremors on Tuesday night, triggering panic among residents. Many villagers ran out of their houses and spent the whole night on the streets. The quake measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale occurred around 10.30 pm. According to sources, villages of Kannivadi, Erakampatti, Kanakkampalayam, Mongampalayam, Mayilragam and Moratuplayayam experienced  tremors. Utensils fell off and residents rushed to the streets. As tremors repeated three to four times, villagers refused to return home. On information, officials from revenue department and Department of Mines, led by  Dharapuram RDO Alagu Meena visited Dharapuram on Wednesday morning. “We confirmed from the Seismology Station at Chennai that the villages in Mulanur block experienced 2.8 Richter of tremor at 10.30 pm on Tuesday. It is suspected that earth quake in Indonesia might have triggered the shock waves”, said RDO Alagu Meena. It is to be noted that the villages in and around Mulanur are experiencing tremors the third time this year. In March 29,2011 mild tremors were reported at Mayilragam, Mettur, Manalur, Nadupalayam, Nagampalayam,  Kulathupudur in Kangeyam taluk and few villages in Aravakurichi taluk of Karur district around 4 am. On May 18, tremors were felt in and around Mulanur. Many motorbikes, parked in front of houses fell off following the quake. The RDO said that since tremors repeated frequently, steps are being taken to install a seismograph in the district. “The proposal would be sent to the Seismology Station, Chennai and it would be installed soon.”