NDRF teams rushed to quake-hit states

As a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Northeastern region early on Monday with its epicenter at Tamenglong in Manipur, killing nine persons and injuring several others, home minister Rajnath Singh, who was in Guwahati at the time of the calamity, said that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been rushed to earthquake-hit areas.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, meanwhile, expressed “deep distress” over the loss of lives and the destruction due to the strong earthquake that jolted the north eastern states and asked its chief ministers in the region to ensure immediate relief and rescue operations.

Health minister J.P. Nadda said that his ministry is constantly in touch with the northeastern states affected by the earthquake and all support is being provided to them. “Union health ministry is in touch with northeastern states affected by earthquake, all necessary support being provided. Three-member health ministry team to reach Manipur by tomorrow to assess ground level situation,” he tweeted.

Mr Singh said that the home ministry is actively monitoring the situation after the earthquake in the northeastern region. NDRF teams, including from Guwahati, have rushed to the affected areas, he said.

The home minister was in Guwahati on Sunday night as part of his two-day trip to Assam and experienced the quake.

The home minister briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone about the situation and the steps taken for rescue and relief.

The Prime Minister said in a tweet that he has asked Mr Rajnath Singh to oversee the situation arising out of the earthquake. Mr Rajnath Singh also spoke to chief ministers of the region and took stock of the situation in each state.

A home ministry spokesperson said that the National Crisis Management Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, is holding a meeting to review the situation.