Fearing quake, residents come out on streets

Tribune News Service

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Bathinda, February 5

A rumour about the possibility of an earthquake created panic among residents of Bathinda here today. Many rushed outside their houses around 4 am.

The panic was triggered by a WhatsApp message stating that there was a prediction of an earthquake in the city at 4 am. People came in panic mode and started forwarding the message and calling their relatives and friends, suggesting them to come out of their houses as a precautionary measure.

Announcements were even made from loudspeakers at various places in the city and adjoining areas in the district asking people to come out of their houses before 4 am.

As a result, a large number of residents complied.

Pawan Jindal, a resident of Namdev Road, said, We received a call from our relative around 2.30 am. He said an earthquake was likely around 4 am so you should go outside your house. I switched on the TV for news, but there was no such report. Despite this, as I heard other people in the street come out of their houses, we didn’t want to take a chance.”

Krishan Kumar, a resident of Paras Ram Nagar, too said a large number of residents in his area were out in the streets. PAU regional centre, Bathinda, meteorological department official said there was no such report of an earthquake.

Faridkot: A rumour on social media about earthquake brought people out on streets at 3 am in the morning in Faridkot area on Sunday. Around 3 am, mobile phones of many people in this area started beeping with Whatsapp messages stating an earthquake of high magnitude was expected at 3.15 am. Even gurdwara loudspeakers were used in many villages of Faridkot to inform the residents about the possible calamity. The rumour kept many people outside for about an hour.