Mehsana braces winter chill, spends night outdoors after friday earthquake
On Friday night, people in Gujarat’s Mehsana spent the entire night outdoors, braving the biting winter chill after a 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck the region. Although there were no reports of casualties or significant property damage, the tremors sparked memories of the devastating 2001 earthquake.
The quake, which hit Mehsana and neighboring areas such as Patan, Banaskantha, Palanpur, and Sabarkantha, was felt widely. The earthquake’s magnitude of 4.2 on the Richter Scale caused enough fear for people to stay outside overnight, worried about potential aftershocks.
This caution was understandable, as many still recall the catastrophic 2001 earthquake, which claimed over 13,000 lives and left a deep scar on the region. It remains the strongest earthquake in Gujarat in the last 200 years.
Residents, haunted by those memories, chose safety over comfort, even as the cold night temperatures made the decision harder to bear.
Despite the fears, the night passed without major incident. Local authorities have reassured citizens that there is no immediate threat. However, the event has reignited concerns about preparedness for future earthquakes in the region.
