Imphal, Jan 4: At least six people were killed and over 90 injured as a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake epicentred in Manipur today hit the northeastern region, causing damage to buildings and triggering panic.
Manipur bore the brunt of the temblor which struck at 4.35 AM, jolting the people out of their sleep. Many buildings collapsed or developed cracks in Tamenglong, where the earthquake was epicetred at a depth of 17 km. All six deaths were in the state while 70 people were injured.
Army and Air Force have joined the relief operations and two teams of National Disaster Response Force have been rushed to Imphal while one was being sent to Assam where at least 20 people were injured.
Of the six deaths in Manipur, three were killed in Imphal West district, one at Jiribam in Imphal East district and two in Senapati districts, officilas said.
“Damage to a few buildings, residential units and Government offices have been reported, including damage to a six storey building in Imphal,” according to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Power supply to Imphal city has been disrupted and some power installations have suffered damage, an official statement said after Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha held a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) this morning.
Several building in Imphal, including the market complex, and roads developed cracks while walls of some school buildings have collapsed, officils said.
Nearly 20 persons were injured in Guwahati and other areas in Assam due to the earthquake, Assam Commissioner and Secretary (Disaster Management) Pramod Kumar Tiwari said.
Officials said at least 30 buildings have developed cracks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Assam, and asked him to oversee the situation arising due to the earthquake.
The PM also spoke to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and other chief ministers in the region to take stock of the situation.
Chief Minister Ibobi Singh said that they were trying to assess the extent of the damage. “The Prime Minister and Home Minister have assured all possible help,” he said.
“MHA is actively monitoring the situation after the earthquake in the North East region,” Rajnath Singh said.
Army units in Manipur were providing all necessary medical assistance to the injured, defence officials said.
The Army and Air Force have started working on relief and rescue operations in quake-hit Manipur.
AN32 plane of Air Force was going to Imphal from Guwahati to take 75 NDRF personnel for relief and rescue operations.
A C17 Globemaster & IL76 plane had been kept on standby at the Hindon airbase to respond to any further relief operations as and when needed.
Army units in Manipur have already started providing all necessary medical help.
National Disaster Response Force teams have been rushed to earthquake hit areas of North-East early today, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said here as he took stock of the situation.
The Home Ministry is actively monitoring the situation after the earthquake in the Northeastern region. NDRF teams, including from Guwahati, have rushed to the affected areas, he said.
Singh was in Guwahati last night as part of his two-day trip to Assam and experienced the quake.
The Home Minister briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone about the situation and the steps taken for rescue and relief.
The Prime Minister said in a tweet that he has asked Singh to oversee the situation arising out of the quake.
Singh also spoke to Chief Ministers of the region and took stock of the situation in each state.
A Home Ministry spokesperson said that the National Crisis Management Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, is holding a meeting to review the situation.
The 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Northeastern region early Monday with its epicenter at Tamenlong in Manipur.
