A powerful earthquake struck northeast India and Bangladesh this morning, killing at least 16 persons and injuring around 200, with efforts to reach remote areas where people might be trapped hampered by severed power lines and telecommunication links. Besides India and Bangladesh, tremors were also felt in Nepal and Myanmar.
At least 11 persons were killed in India when an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale rocked the northeastern region around 4.35 am today. The epicentre of the earthquake was at Tamenglong in Manipur.
At least eight deaths have been reported so far from the worst-affected Manipur, where over 90 persons were injured at various places. Two persons died in Guwahati and one in Bihar after suffering cardiac arrest when they got panicky trying to rush out of their homes during the quake. There was, however, no report of any major damage or casualties from other states of the region.
According to the data available with the seismological science department of the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, the earthquake hit the North-East 16 seconds past 4.35 am with an intensity of 6.7 on the Richter scale. The epicentre of the earthquake has been traced to Tamenglong in Manipur (latitude 28.8° N longitude 93.5° E) at a depth of 17 km from the earth surface.
Dr Ranju Duarah, senior geologist at the NEIST, said more tremors were likely in the region as aftershocks. He said the area in Tamenglong district of Manipur where the epicentre of the quake was situated was within the Indian continental crust, but close to ancient tectonic boundaries between Indian and Myanmar continental plates. He said continental plate boundary region remained seismically very active and earthquakes could occur any day in those areas as stress was always building in those areas.
Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to Manipur for conducting rescue operations. At Imphal's airport, flights were normal, although a boundary wall collapsed, and a crack appeared in the terminal building, said Thanglian, who works there.
Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh arrived in Imphal to monitor the relief and rescue operations. Several buildings, including the multi-storied all-women market in Imphal, suffered extensive damage in the quake. Power supply was hit throughout Manipur, sources said.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Assam visiting areas on the India-Bangladesh border, said the Centre was monitoring the situation in Manipur and would provide all possible assistance to help the state tide over the crisis.
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh convened an emergency meeting of the state Cabinet to discuss the situation in the aftermath of the disaster. He said the state would need assistance from all, including governments and NGOs, to tide over the crisis.
Manipur witnessed three earthquakes since 11 pm last night. The latest and the third one with magnitude 3.6 on the Richter scale occurred around 9.27 am with epicentre near Tamenglong at a depth of 20 km. The second one with magnitude 6.7 on the Richter scale was the most damaging.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Ibobi Singh, Tarun Gogoi and other chief ministers of the region early in the morning to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of the quake. Extensive damage to dwelling units was reported from Majuli, the largest inhabited river island on the planet.
At least 11 persons were killed in India when an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale rocked the northeastern region around 4.35 am today. The epicentre of the earthquake was at Tamenglong in Manipur.
At least eight deaths have been reported so far from the worst-affected Manipur, where over 90 persons were injured at various places. Two persons died in Guwahati and one in Bihar after suffering cardiac arrest when they got panicky trying to rush out of their homes during the quake. There was, however, no report of any major damage or casualties from other states of the region.
According to the data available with the seismological science department of the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, the earthquake hit the North-East 16 seconds past 4.35 am with an intensity of 6.7 on the Richter scale. The epicentre of the earthquake has been traced to Tamenglong in Manipur (latitude 28.8° N longitude 93.5° E) at a depth of 17 km from the earth surface.
Dr Ranju Duarah, senior geologist at the NEIST, said more tremors were likely in the region as aftershocks. He said the area in Tamenglong district of Manipur where the epicentre of the quake was situated was within the Indian continental crust, but close to ancient tectonic boundaries between Indian and Myanmar continental plates. He said continental plate boundary region remained seismically very active and earthquakes could occur any day in those areas as stress was always building in those areas.
Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to Manipur for conducting rescue operations. At Imphal's airport, flights were normal, although a boundary wall collapsed, and a crack appeared in the terminal building, said Thanglian, who works there.
Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh arrived in Imphal to monitor the relief and rescue operations. Several buildings, including the multi-storied all-women market in Imphal, suffered extensive damage in the quake. Power supply was hit throughout Manipur, sources said.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Assam visiting areas on the India-Bangladesh border, said the Centre was monitoring the situation in Manipur and would provide all possible assistance to help the state tide over the crisis.
Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh convened an emergency meeting of the state Cabinet to discuss the situation in the aftermath of the disaster. He said the state would need assistance from all, including governments and NGOs, to tide over the crisis.
Manipur witnessed three earthquakes since 11 pm last night. The latest and the third one with magnitude 3.6 on the Richter scale occurred around 9.27 am with epicentre near Tamenglong at a depth of 20 km. The second one with magnitude 6.7 on the Richter scale was the most damaging.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Ibobi Singh, Tarun Gogoi and other chief ministers of the region early in the morning to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of the quake. Extensive damage to dwelling units was reported from Majuli, the largest inhabited river island on the planet.
