Manipur quake: 100 injured, army, air force start rescue ops

Manipur quake: 100 injured, army, air force start rescue ops

PTIUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 07:26 PM IST
article-image
An Indian man stands at a collapsed building following a 6.7 magnitude earthquake, in Imphal on December 4, 2015. At least eight people were killed and scores injured January 4, when a strong 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck northeast India, sending panicked residents fleeing into the streets even hundreds of kilometres away in Bangladesh. AFP PHOTO/ MANIPUR TIMES |

Imphal:  At least 6 people were killed and over 100 injured as a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake with epicentre in Manipur today hit the northeastern region, causing damage to many buildings and spreading panic.

The Army and Air Force have started working on relief and rescue operations in quake-hit Manipur. Army units in Manipur have already started providing all necessary medical assistance to the injured, officials said.

Manipur bore the brunt of the temblor which struck at 4.35 AM with its epicentre at Tamenglong district at a depth of 17 km below the ground.

Jolted from their sleep, people ran out of their houses in panic. Many buildings collapsed in Tamenglong while several others in Imphal, including the market complex, developed cracks, sources said. Electricity connection was cut off in the state soon after the quake.

Officials said at least 30 buildings have developed cracks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Assam, and asked him to oversee the situation arising due to the earthquake.

Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally overseeing the relief and rescue operations in earthquake-hit Manipur and other parts of northeast.

“The government is concerned about the earthquake in Manipur. We want to reassure the affected states that the Prime Minister is personally following up the rescue operations. The NDRF teams have been pressed into operations, two teams have already left this morning,” Singh told mediapersons here.

The PM also spoke to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and other chief ministers in the region to take stock of the situation.

“MHA is actively monitoring the situation after the earthquake in the North East region,” the Home Minister said.
Two National Disaster Response Force teams were air lifted from Guwahati to Imphal.

The NDMA said it was co-ordinating with the state governments, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence, NDRF, Ministry of Telecom and other concerned Government departments and agencies for search & rescue and relief.

NDMA spoke to the control room/relief commissioners of all the states in the North-East- Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland as well as West Bengal.

Earthquake was also felt in several parts of Jharkhand with people rushing out from homes in Dumka. People in Ranchi, Giridih, Chatra, Lohardaga districts also experienced mild tremors, officials said.

NDMA spoke to the control room/relief commissioners of all the states in the North-East- Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland as well as West Bengal All states in the north-east are categorized under zone V in the country’s Seismological map and considered to be highly vulnerable.

The NCMC meeting was attended by Secretary (Power), Secretary (Telecom), Member, NDMA and DG (Indian Meteorological Department). The representatives of Ministries Home and Defence also participated in the meeting. Chief Secretary, Manipur participated through the video link.

(With inputs from ANI)

RECENT STORIES

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Unveils Campaign Strategy In UP, Books 19 Chartered Planes For Star...

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Unveils Campaign Strategy In UP, Books 19 Chartered Planes For Star...

Kolkata: BJP Leader Dilip Ghosh Once Again Makes Controversial Statement Against TMC After ECI Sends...

Kolkata: BJP Leader Dilip Ghosh Once Again Makes Controversial Statement Against TMC After ECI Sends...

Kolkata: TMC Leader Mahua Moitra Skips ED Summons, To Start Campaigning For Upcoming Lok Sabha...

Kolkata: TMC Leader Mahua Moitra Skips ED Summons, To Start Campaigning For Upcoming Lok Sabha...

ED Questions AAP Leaders In Goa Liquor Policy Scam Investigation; Kejriwal's Custody Extended

ED Questions AAP Leaders In Goa Liquor Policy Scam Investigation; Kejriwal's Custody Extended

Gujarat: NDPS Court Imposes 2 Lakh Fine On Sacked IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt In Drug Planting Case

Gujarat: NDPS Court Imposes 2 Lakh Fine On Sacked IPS Officer Sanjiv Bhatt In Drug Planting Case