Powerful quake hits Assam, tremors across NE, Bengal
A powerful earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted Assam, other northeastern states and adjoining North Bengal while 9 aftershocks were recorded in the hours after the first quake which shook Sonitpur in northern Assam at 7.51 am on Wednesday.
According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the tremors were also felt in North Bengal and other northeastern states including Arunachal and neighbouring Bhutan. Disaster management officials said in Guwahati there were reports of damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure in different parts of Sonitpur, Tezpur, Nagaon, Morigaon and adjoining areas but detailed reports were awaited.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Assam Disaster Management Authority GD Tripathi said no human casualty was reported but several were injured. Several apartments, buildings and hotels developed cracks. Electricity and gas supply was disrupted in some places.
The NCS data said after the first quake, 9 aftershocks of magnitude 2.9 to 4.7 on the Richter Scale were recorded over the next 8 hours (until 3.55 pm) in the vicinity of Sonitpur, Nagaon and Morigaon districts. The earthquake struck at 7.51 am at a depth of 17 km from the surface.
PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) Minister Jitendra Singh spoke to Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and assured of help. After speaking over phone with Sonowal twice, Modi tweeted: "Spoke to Assam CM Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji regarding the earthquake in parts of the state. Assured all possible help from the Centre. I pray for the well-being of the people of Assam.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he stood in solidarity with people of quake-hit Assam and asked party leaders and workers to be at the forefront of rescue and relief efforts.