Quake hits Northeast India: 7 killed, hundreds injured

In the first major earthquake to hit India’s northeastern states, at least seven persons were killed and more than a hundred were injured. The 6.7 Richter quake hit Manipur and adjoining state of Assam, before dawn on January 4. The tremors were also felt across the region, including in the bordering regions of Myanmar, Bangladesh and Tibet.

The death toll touched six in Manipur, where the epicentre was located and at least one person died in Guwahati. There were reports of damage to several buildings in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, where a portion of one building collapsed, police officials said. The Manipur administration began rescue operations in the area with the help of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces. About 110 are said to be injured in Manipur.

Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams of 90 personnel each have been instructed to rush to Imphal from Guwahati. Two other disaster response teams were being sent to Manipur. The epicentre of the quake was in Tamenglong region of Manipur. It struck at a depth of 17 km in the India-Myanmar border region, according to the meteorological department. The US Geographical Survey (USGC) said the epicenter was 29 km west-northwest from Imphal.

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