Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Sep 18: Mild tremors were experienced in Lucknow on Sunday evening creating panic among denizens who rushed out of their houses and flats to get refuge in the open.

It was around 6.15 to 6.17 pm when people noticed mild swings. A resident of Gomtinagar, Ashok Gautam said: "I was watching television and between 6.15 to 6.20 pm, I felt that the trolley on which the TV set is kept shaking. Taking it to be serious,  I along with my family ran out of my house to avoid any casualty." He added that later he called his relatives and friends to enquire whether they felt it or not.

Ritu Jain, who lives in an apartment near IT Crossing also felt the shakes while she was helping her daughter with homework. She said: "I was sitting on a chair and teaching my daughter and suddenly I felt my chair shaking. Being a geography teacher I know about quakes." She added that she along with her daughter ran down and also asked others to leave the building for their safety. People residing in La Place, Jopling road, Viksanagar etc reacted in the same way.

Director General of Geological Survey of India, LS Jain while confirming tremors said: "I got calls from several people that they felt swings which remained for sometime only. As it was a holiday, all the officials were at their homes but after getting the news about it, they all have got back to work. We are collecting data and probably we will be in a position to release any data on Monday."

Officials in the Met office in Lucknow said at 18:10:47 the earthquake was felt. Although intensity was recorded at 6.8 on the Richter scale in the north-east zone. The epicentre was latitude 27.7 north and longitude 88.2 east  which is Nepal-Sikkim Border. However in Lucknow it was mild, the officials added.