Port Blair:
A strong earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale hit the whole of Andaman islands early Tuesday morning.
Though no casualty was reported from any part of the island region, there was widespread panic among the people.
The official sources said the region was rattled by the tremors early Tuesday morning, bringing back memories of devastating tsunami of December 2004.
The epicentre of the earthquake was located at about 260 km north of Port Blair in the Indian Ocean, Meteorological department officials said.
At 6:20 am, an aftershock measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale hit the islands.
People came running out of their houses especially in the north and middle Andaman islands. They did not enter the houses even three hours after the earthquake, officials said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, North and Middle Andamans, Nageshwar Rao said that there was no report of any casualty from North and Middle Andaman islands.
Andaman and Nicobar administration said there was no warning for tsunami.
No report of damage or injury has not been received from any of the islands, S N Jha, Deputy Commissioner Andaman district and the incharge of disaster management committee of Andaman and Nicobar Islands said.