Quake of 6.4 magnitude strikes Assam State

Guwahati A series of earthquakes jolted Assam and most of the Northeast on Wednesday, causing extensive damage to buildings and forcing people to scamper out of their homes. There were no immediate reports of deaths, but three people were injured as the first quake of 6.4 magnitude struck Tezpur, the headquarters of Sonitpur district in Assam, at 7.51 am, officials said.

The impact was felt in almost the entire Northeastern region, parts of West Bengal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The first quake was followed in quick succession by lesser intensity tremors of 4.7, 4, and two 3.6 magnitudes at 8.03 am, 8.13 am, 8.25 am and 8.44 am, Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) Deputy Director Sanjay O'neil Shaw said.

Another earthquake of 3.2 magnitude hit Assam's Nagaon district at 10.05 am. A while later, another jolt of 3.4 magnitude hit Tezpur at 10.39 am. At 12.32 pm, the eighth quake of 2.9 magnitude hit Marigaon. There were reports of extensive damage to buildings and other structures from across Assam, mostly in the central and western towns of Tezpur, Nagaon, Guwahati, Mangaldoi, Dhekiajuli and Morigaon.

"We have received reports of three people getting injured in the earthquake. However, there is no death. We are still collecting reports from different districts and assessing the total damage to the properties. It will take some more time," Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) CEO Gyanendra Tripathi said.

Several roads in the region developed wide cracks, affecting traffic. Besides, in many areas' fissures were seen in fields with water oozing out, officials said. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said damage to buildings and structures was reported from areas within 100 km radius of the epicentre.

In Guwahati, the Chief Minister's block at the 'Janata Bhawan' complex, the State secretariat, witnessed some damage, sources said.