Eight killed as quake rocks Northeast India

Guwahati: A powerful earthquake, which was 6.8 on Richter scale, rocked the northeastern states on Monday morning, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 90 in Manipur.

However, number of injured continued to climb with rescue and relief team launching its operations in affected areas.

Pointing out that epicenter of the earthquake was in Noney town in Tamenglong district, the authorities at Imphal said that more than 90 injured have been admitted in various hospitals including Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Jaw-aharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences and some private hospitals including Shija hospital and Raj Polyclinic.

Among those killed included a 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, a 50 year old man Ibotombi Singh from Patsoi in Imphal West and an entire family – four members of a Nepali family who had been living close to the Indian Army headquarters in Manipur at Leimakhong.

Apart from Tamenglong district, the epicenter of the quake, a large number of injuries was reported from Churachandpur district in Manipur. In the capital city of Imphal scores of buildings and homes developed cracks and several walls collapsed under the impact of the tremor.

The authorities said that an under construction building in Dew-lahland collapsed soon after the earthquake hit but no one was injured in the collapse.

Similarly, over 20 people were injured and scores of buildings developed cra-cks in the powerful earthquake.

Meanwhile, Union minister of state home Kiren Rijiju arrived Imphal and reviewed the relief and rescue operations with Manipur chief minister.

Mr Rijiju who has been sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help the state administration in carrying out rescue operation told reporters that central government was prepared to extend all necessary help to the state. The Union home minister Mr Rajnath Singh who was in Guwahati spoke to chief ministers of northeastern states and rushed team of National Disaster Response Force to earthquake-hit areas of northeastern states particularly to worst affected Manipur.

The Army and Air Force have also started working on relief and rescue operations in quake—hit Manipur.

An AN32 plane of Air Force took off to Imphal from Guwahati with 75 NDRF personnel for relief and rescue operations.

A C17 Globemaster and IL76 plane had been kept on standby at the Hindon airbase to respond to any further relief operations as and when needed.

Army units in Manipur have already started providing necessary medical assistance to the injured, officials said.

The Union home minister further said that ministry of home affairs was actively monitoring the situation after the earthquake in the region.