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An earthquake of moderate intensity was felt early on Wednesday morning near Sangli in Western Maharashtra. Magnitude of the quake, whose epicentre was 13.6 km from Koyna Dam, was 4.8 on the Richter scale. There has been no damage to the dam, which is filled to its capacity. There were no reports of any loss of life or damage to property in the tremor which was felt at 3.17 am and lasted for 30 seconds.

'Death in sleep' rumours keep Pune awake

It was a sleepless Wednesday night for many citizens in the Pimpri-Chinchwad township and some Pune suburbs, following a rumour that people were dying in their sleep. The 'reasons ' for the rumoured deaths were many - planetary effect, fast spreading illness and earthquake.
The rumours started spreading around 2 am on Thursday, as people started receiving calls on their phones informing them about the sudden deaths and warning them not to sleep.
Panic and anxiety spread among the people, mostly staying in chawls and hutments. The rumours spread fast as people started calling others on their mobiles.
Sunita Kamble, a resident of Sangvi, said she and her two children stayed awake outside the house after her husband received a phone call around 4 am, saying that people were dying in their sleep.
Another resident Tarabai Janrao too was awake, along with her children and family members, since early morning. Nanda Adhav of Kothrud also said she had heard about the panic that had spread in the locality.
The Pimpri police confirmed that a rumour had spread among the citizens. The rumour also caused anxiety among parents and in some institutions. "We received three- four calls in the morning from some students, a college and a bank employee asking whether the situation is normal and whether people can travel," the duty officer at Pimpri police station said.
Chandrakant Shendkar of Balajinagar in Katraj told TOI that many residents in the locality did not sleep in the wee hours.
Chetan Chavale, who stays at the hospital quarters near Aundh, said he had received two calls from his relatives staying in Barshi and Tuljapur. "I was told that people were dying in their sleep due to some planetary effect. However, I did not believe it and had a good sleep," he said.
Sukhdev Bachute of Sangvi said that although he did not believe in the rumour, children were the most sufferers as they were made to stay awake by their parents.
This is the second such rumour that has spread among people since Saturday, when Rakshabandhan was celebrated. As there was a lunar eclipse on Saturday, a rumour had spread among a section of females that if the rakhi was tied then the brother would die. Despite the rumours, the festival was celebrated with much fervour and gaiety.