Mysterious 'boom' sound from underground sparks panic in Wayanad town
Residents of Edakkal in Kerala's landslide-hit Wayanad district reported hearing a noise from beneath the ground on Friday. Local informed reporters that they heard a massive sound followed by a jerk-like sensation. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said it was reviewing seismic data and conducting local reconnaissance to see if anything is unusual. "As of now seismic records do not show any indications of movements," it said.
'Heard loud, booming sounds from beneath the earth'
Anas Rosna Stephy, the president of the Pozhuthana panchayat, also told HT, "We heard loud, booming sounds from beneath the earth between 10 am and 10:15am. Some people felt as if the ground was shaking too. The whole thing lasted only a few seconds." Similar experiences were reported from other panchayats such as Nenmeni, Ambalavayal, and Vythiri.
'No seismic activity reported in Wayanad'
Clearing the air, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) stated that there was no seismic activity reported in Wayanad between 10:00am and 12 noon on Friday. Regardless, some lower primary schools in landslide affected areas suspended classes on Friday as a precautionary measure. The Chief Minister's office also released a statement indicating that efforts have begun to relocate people from densely populated areas where these mysterious sounds were heard.
Massive landslides struck Wayanad on July 30
Massive landslides hit the hamlets of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha in Wayanad on July 30. The deadly landslides claimed the lives of nearly 300 deaths, while nearly 140 people remain missing. Over 1,600 rescue workers, including from the Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the police, and other government agencies, carried out rescue operations, which ended on the 10th day on Thursday.
