7 magnitude quake hits India’s northeast, leaves 6 dead

Imphal: At least seven persons were killed and around 50 people injured as a strong 6.7 magnitude natural disaster with epicentre in Manipur on Monday hit the northeastern region, causing damage to many buildings and spreading panic. Photo: AFP Indian residents use a tarpaulin to cover damaged buildings in Imphal on January 4, 2016 Photo: AFP The interior view of a damaged church is seen after an natural disaster at Leimakhong village on the outskirts of Imphal, India Photo: REUTERS A man stands next to a damaged house after an quake at P.Molding village on the outskirts of Imphal, India, January 4, 2016.

The tremor cracked walls and a newly-built six-storey building in Imphal collapsed, police said.

“The rescue operations are about to start on a war footing”. “A six-story building in the capital was partially damaged and some small structures have also developed cracks”, he said.

The temblor, which hit at 4:35 a.m. local time (7:05 p.m. ET), was centered in an isolated area. “He asked me to take immediate steps”, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters in Assam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously monitoring the situation in the Northeast due to the quake. A three-member team from Power Grid Corporation is in Manipur to assist in restoring power supply. The NCMC meeting was chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha while Chief Secretary of Manipur participated in it through video conferencing. It struck at a depth of 17 kilometres (10 miles) below the surface and not far from the border with Myanmar. The US Geographical Survey (USGC)?said the epicenter was 29 kilometeres west-northwest from Imphal. But no casualties were reported from Tamenglong.

Shangthon Kamei, a teacher in Tamenglong, said the quake rattled buildings.

Jitendra Singh, MoS (independent charge), ministry of development of North Eastern region said the Centre was in touch with the affected state and was following developments closely.

As many as 88 people were reported injured in the quake, which was was felt in states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand as well as neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

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

Residents say power and telecom links were down in a region, while many fled from their homes. “Thought death and destruction was imminent”, said Imphal resident, Ram Wangkheirakpam.