Three minor quakes in Maharashtra, Gujarat

Mumbai, April 14 (IANS) Two mild earthquakes in western and coastal Maharashtra and one in the Bhuj region of Gujarat shook large parts of the two western Indian states Saturday, officials said.

There are no reports of any human casualties after the tremors, though some buildings in the Konkan region developed cracks.

Two mild tremors - with epicentre at Satara and Ratnagiri - shook parts of Maharashtra twice during Saturday, according to Rajeev Nair, director, weather forecasting, west.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the first tremor was recorded at Rann of Kutch (Bhuj) in Gujarat, measuring 4 on the Richter scale.

Later, two more quakes were recorded in adjacent Maharashtra, at 11.05 a.m. in Satara district and 11.58 a.m. in Ratnagiri district, notching 4.9 and 4 on the Richter scale.

Although the epicenter of the Satara quake was in the vicinity of the Koyna Dam, officials said the dam was safe.

The tremors shook parts of western Maharashtra and the Konkan region, including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Satara, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Sangli, Kolhapur and Sindhudurg.

Many people came out of their homes as a precaution.

Today's tremors follow a series of quakes off Indonesia that triggered fears of tsunami in parts of eastern coastal India Wednesday.

Many people in Mumbai, Pune, Thane and other coastal and western parts of the state also experienced the tremors.