Earthquake measuring 6.7 jolts northeastern region, kills 10

Calamity struck the region at 4:37 am on Monday; Manipur severely affected by the quake

The people of Northeast were, earlier today, jolted out of their sleeps when a moderate-to-high intensity earthquake, measuring 6.7 on the Richter Scale, struck at 4:37 am. The quake had its epicenter in Tamenglong district, bordering Assam, in Manipur. At least 10 people have died, while over a hundred have been injured.  

Most number of deaths, injuries and damages to property were reported from Manipur. Eight people died, while 30 were seriously injured in the state. Besides, more than hundred people have been admitted in hospitals with minor injuries. 

An under-construction building in Imphal came crashing down when the quake struck, while many buildings and houses have been developed cracks. A market in the city is also reported to have been partly damaged.

At Guwahati, two people lost their lives. Many buildings in the city and other parts of Assam have been reportedly damaged.  

 “Two persons have died and around 20 injury cases were reported in Guwahati but most of them were minor cases.  All injuries and deaths were due to panic reaction by the people when they tried running out of their homes. We have to create awareness among people not to panic, but to act in calm and composed manner when earthquake strikes,” said Tarun Gogoi, chief minister, Assam. 

So far, no reports of any casualty have been reported from any other Northeastern states. 

Two 45-member teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to Manipur from Guwahati by air. Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) minister, Jitendra Singh, and Union home minister, Rajnath Singh, are set to visit Manipur later in the day. 

Okram Ibobi Singh, chief minister of Manipur, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister called him in the morning to enquire about the situation in the state. 

Train services across the region were controlled soon after the quake, but have now resumed as the railways have found there has been no damage to rail lines due to the earthquake.  

In New Delhi, Cabinet Secretary convened a National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting at 10 am to assess the situation and provide all necessary help from the Centre to Manipur.