6 killed, 50 injured in Manipur earthquake

Imphal/Shillong, Jan 4: At least six people were killed and more than 50 injured when an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale rocked Manipur and other north-eastern states early Monday, an official said.

The death toll is expected to rise even as the rescue operation is on, he added.

An earthquake of moderate intensity rocked India's north-eastern states and adjoining Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan on Monday morning, the regional seismological centre in Meghalaya said.

The quake with epicentre in Manipur's Tamenglong district at 4.35 a.m. was felt in parts of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura, said one of its official.

Six people, including four women, have died and over 50 others injured due to the earthquake," Inspector General of Police Clay Khongsai told IANS.

Khongsai said the district administration was on the job to rescue trapped people.

He said four- to five-storey buildings in Imphal, the state capital of Manipur, collapsed. Several vehicles and goods were also damaged.

Khongsai said the Emma market - the day market for the mothers in Manipur - was cordoned off as it was badly damaged. "We are not allowing anyone to enter the market to prevent any loss of life, the police official said.

Works Minister Kh Ratan accompanied by officials inspected the damage caused by the earthquake, one of the worst in the last 50 years.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has convened a cabinet meeting to review the situation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh discussed on phone the post-earthquake situation in the state and other areas.

Modi also spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is visiting Assam, and asked him to oversee the situation.

India's north-east region is considered the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world.

In September 2011, Sikkim suffered heavy damage as a quake hit the state.

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Imphal, Jan 4: At least two person was killed and 35 injured as a powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter Scale rocked Manipur and other north-eastern states early Monday,Jan 4.

"Initial report indicates that one person was killed and 30 injured due to the earthquake," Inspector General of Police Clay Khongsai said.

"Public and private properties have been damaged. The district administration is on the job to rescue trapped persons," he said.

Khongsai said they were yet to receive any report from Tamenglong district.

According to the regional seismological centre in Meghalaya, an earthquake of moderate intensity rocked India's northeastern states and adjoining Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan Monday morning.

The quake occurred at 4.35 a.m. and had its epicentre in Manipur's Tamenglong district. It was felt in parts of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura, said an official of the regional seismological centre in Meghalaya.

India's northeast is considered the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world.

The northeast has seen some of the biggest quakes in history. In 1897, the Shillong-epicentred quake measured 8.2 on the Richter scale.

In 1950, an earthquake in Assam measuring 8.7 on the Richter Scale forced the mighty Brahmaputra river to change its course. In September 2011, Sikkim underwent heavy damage after a quake hit the state.

IANS