Magnitude was 8.1, says study

AHMEDABAD, FEB. 2. Fresh seismological analysis has revealed that the January 26 earthquake in Gujarat was of a magnitude of 8.1 on the Richter scale and not 6.9 or 7.9 as stated earlier.

Yesterday, U.S. experts had claimed that the quake measured 7.7. But, Geophysicist, Dr. J.G. Negi, said the Bhuj- centred quake was equivalent in magnitude to the one which ravaged Mexico on September 19, 1985. The Bhuj Treivblor was about 1,000 times more life-threatening than the Latur quake of September 30, 1993, which had measured 6.3.

Dr. Negi, who was awarded the prestigious Shantiswaroop Bhatnagar award for his studies on the Koyna quake of 1969, said the Bhuj quake had ``softened up'' Ahmedabad, making its parts brittle and shattered like the windscreen of a car and rendered it more vulnerable to future quakes. The aftershocks were still being felt in different parts of Gujarat, with a magnitude of tremors measuring upto 6.5 not being ruled out.

- UNI

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