At least 8 dead after 6.7 magnitude quake hits India’s northeast

It struck before dawn on Monday at a depth of 17 kilometres in the India-Myanmar border region.

At least one person was feared dead after an quake measuring 6.8 struck near Imphal in eastern India on Monday, sending people running from their homes and knocking out power to the city near the Myanmar border.

Thankfully, no casualties were reported within Meghalaya even as the high intensity tremors rocked buildings in Meghalaya waking the slumbering population and bringing back memories of the recent Nepal natural disaster that devastated the Himalayan kingdom.

About 100 people received injuries and of them 33 were in serious condition and admitted to different hospitals in Manipur, official sources said.

Other establishments, including residential and retail structures in the surrounding villages, were also destroyed by the quake.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was in touch with authorities in the northeast. Tremors were also felt across the belt, including in the bordering regions of Myanmar, Bangladesh and Tibet. The quake – which reportedly lasted as long as 60 seconds – occurred while many people were asleep.

Six were killed in India, the government said, while three people died in Bangladesh after suffering strokes or heart attacks following the early-morning quake. Gen. Anurag Gupta of the Indian National Disaster Management Authority, one six-story building had collapsed in Imphal.

The statement said, telecom services are fully operational and a BSNL official has reached Imphal to take stock of partial damage to the state-run operator’s building and to advise on ensuring safety in future. Strong tremors left large cracks in several buildings and walls across these states. The army, IAF and NDRF, the Assam Rifles mounted relief operations in Manipur and Assam, officials said.

“He had instructed Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is visiting the region, to monitor the relief work”, he said.

India’s Meteorological Department said the epicentre was in the Tamenglong region of Manipur. It was also felt in adjoining Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan. A national crisis management committee meeting is scheduled for 10.30 am to assess the situation, reported ANI. Manipur state’s home minister, G. Gaikhangam, said several areas suffered extensive damage, especially the capital, Imphal.