10 killed as big quake hits Northeast

Manoj Anand with agency inputs

A powerful earthquake, registering 6.8 on the Richter scale, rocked the Northeast and eastern India on Monday morning, killing at least eight people and injuring over 80 others in Manipur. Two other deaths were reported from Bihar and West Bengal. The number of the injured rose as rescue and relief operations began in the affected areas.

The earthquake’s epicentre was in Manipur’s Noney town in Tamenglong district. In Imphal, scores of buildings and homes developed cracks and many walls collapsed under the tremor’s impact. Panic spread, and people were seen scampering out of their homes.

The Army and the Air Force have begun relief operations and two teams of the National Disaster Response Force were rushed to Imphal while one was sent to Assam. More teams have be kept on standby.

Those killed included 17-year-old girl Phaigamaton Devi, who died in Jiribam, 37-year-old M. Sarat from Imphal West, who died in hospital from spinal injuries, 50-year-old Ibotombi Singh from Patsoi in Imphal West and four members of a Nepali family living close to the Indian Army headquarters in Manipur at Leimakhong. A large number of injuries were from Churachandpur district in Manipur.

Union minister of state home Kiren Rijiju reached Imphal and reviewed relief and rescue work with Manipur CM O. Ibobi Singh. Mr Rijiju, sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help the state administration carry out rescue operations, told reporters the Centre was ready to extend all necessary help. Union home minister Rajnath Singh, who was in Guwahati, spoke to the chief ministers of the Northeastern states and rushed NDRF teams to the quake-hit areas, particularly worst-affected Manipur.