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Andhra floods may cause earthquakes: Scientist

The heavy rains and floods in Andhra Pradesh may cause earthquakes, Professor and Head of the Department of Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Ramesh P Singh said in Kanpur on Saturday.

With heavy rainfall and floods in Andhra Pradesh, water is likely to percolate under the Earth's surface through fracture zones, commonly found in the shield areas, leading to increase in the pore pressure that may cause earthquakes, he said.

One of the probable reasons for the occurrence of earthquakes is injection of water in the Earth or its withdrawal as this action increases or reduces the subsurface pressure, Singh said.

He appealed to government agencies, academic institutions and scientists involved in earthquake related studies to monitor Andhra Pradesh and surrounding areas.

He said the studies might help save lives and property in the event of any major disaster.

SEE ALSO
Weather office predicts heavy rain in coastal Andhra
State was not prepared for crisis: Naidu
Flood situation 'alarming'

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