- By Unzila Sheikh
- Thu, 07 Sep 2023 07:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A Tsunami warning siren erroneously started ringing from the Early Warning Dissemination System at Porvorim.The alert went off after 9 PM on Wednesday and continued for more than 20 minutes, causing panic among the local residents.
The cause of the siren's activation is being investigated. The state minister said that he has requested a report.
The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) is situated on a hillside in Porvorim, North Goa, on the outskirts of Panaji.
According to Mamu Hage, District Collector of North Goa, as quoted by PTI, "It was a false warning as there was no such intimation of tsunami from any of the authorities."
There was no mock drill. No warning was found either from India Meteorological Department (IMD) or the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), she added
The state Water Resources Department (WRD) has been directed to investigate why the EWDS alarm started playing.
People living close stated the siren caused panic among the residents. "We were on a walk after dinner when we heard the siren.Initially we panicked, but we soon realised that it could be a mock drill," local resident Avinash R said as quoted by PTI.
State WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said that he has sought a report from his office, which will be received by this evening.
In a social media post, the North Goa District Disaster Authority said, "There are certain reports of Siren alerting the Early Warning Dissemination System at Porvorim of a Tsunami alert".
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) stated that no Tsunami Alert has been issued. It further advised the citizens not to panic.