10 dead, over 90 injured as quake hits North

So far, one AN-32 and one Avro aircraft supplied by the Indian Air Force are carrying NDRF personnel to Imphal from Guwahati. Most shops and business establishments were also closed. She sustained injuries in her pelvic region and has been admitted to Shillong Civil Hospital.

Several neighbouring countries felt tremors too. “Three people are also reported dead in Assam”, he said.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi rang me up to say that funds will not stand in the way to provide relief measures to the people”, he said.

A team of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) reached the spot with relief materials on Monday morning and another team is expected soon, official sources said. Two other disaster response teams were being sent to Manipur.

All the seven deaths in Manipur were reported from Jiribam area of Imphal West district, state officials said adding the names of the deceased were, however, not immediately available.

Unicef is monitoring the situation for children in India following a 6.8 magnitude quake that has struck the north-eastern state of Manipur, near to the border with Myanmar and Bangladesh. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was 29 kilometers northwest of Imphal, the state’s capital.

The USGS has raised its assessment alert for casualties and damage to orange, meaning there is a 33 percent chance of between 100 and 1,000 fatalities.

It said buildings in the area were largely “highly vulnerable to quake shaking”. Several vehicles and goods were also damaged.

The Northeast Frontier Railway suspended train movement for two hours immediately after the quake.

Manipur’s Health Commissioner P.K. Singh said authorities were identifying spaces where temporary health facilities could be set up in case of stronger aftershocks, although there were no immediate reports of major damage to hospitals.

Residents said people fled from their homes, and power and telecoms links were down in the remote region. The damage was limited as the region is dotted with small houses with few tall buildings.

A girl was killed in a building collapse at Tamenglong district, while another person died at Taobungkhok village in Imphal West district, police said.

Manipur is one of seven north eastern provinces joined to the rest of the India by a thin strip of territory arching above Bangladesh.