Scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) on Saturday confirmed that the sounds heard by people of Vanasthalipuram, Hastinapuram and Sachivalayanagar were caused due to minor tremors in the earth.
Talking to media persons, NGRI scientist Sri Nagesh said that the blast-like sounds were recorded by 2 seismic instruments kept for observation on Saturday.
The scientist said that the magnitude of the tremor reported in the area was 1.8 on Richter scale, and there was no cause for worry. "The minor tremors will not cause any major destruction and loss to lives," he said.
Terrified residents had run out of their houses with fear and spent night on the roads in the surroundings of the Sri Padmavathi Venkateswara Swamy temple and the Red Water Tank after hearing the sounds on Friday night.
The residents said that the huge sounds were heard twice within a gap of 10 minutes on Friday. The sounds were repeated on Saturday morning.
Following a complaint from the locals, senior police officials visited the area along with noted geologists to study the reasons behind the sounds.