• At least six people injured in Manipur
• PM Modi assures all possible assistance
• For any assistant public may contact State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) @ 1070.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 13
The people of Nagaland were jolted out of their evening reverie when a strong tremor with its epicentre in the Myanmar-India border region hit the eastern part of India.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the 6.9-magnitude quake hit 74km South East of Mawlaik, Myanmar occurred at the depth of 134.8 km.
An official in from Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) told The Morung Express the tremor was felt all over the State.
IANS also reported that the tremor was felt across all the North Eastern States as well as northern and southern districts of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. At least six people were injured in Manipur at the time of filing the story.
As the earthquake hit the surface, people scurried out on to streets in panic.
Kevilonuo, a resident of Kohima, was cutting vegetables to cook dinner when the tremor occurred.
“I run up and down the stairs holding the knife and went outside holding the same.” In panic she also forget to turn off the stove and got nice scolding for that, she added.
With frequent occurrence of such earthquakes in recent times, some religious people have given it a doomsday angle. Some people reportedly said they felt tremors in the morning too. Social media comments were full of such assumptions.
While everyone was shouting and coming out, some people in my colony were saying, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, during and after the tremors, another Kohima resident added.
“I was sitting in my house yard and jumped up saying ‘Hoi Hoi,’ Tia, a Teacher in Jalukie said. “I was wondering what could have been the consequences if a more powerful earthquake had occurred,” he added.
All over Dimapur City, people rushed out to the streets as the tremor hit, some lingering on much after the tremor, fearing aftershocks.
On April 10 last, six people were killed in Pakistan after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake centered near neighboring Afghanistan’s border with Tajikistan rattled major cities across South Asia. The tremor was also felt in parts of India.
In January 4, 2016, an earthquake measuring 6.7 magnitude struck North East India, near its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, killing at least nine people from Manipur and Bangladesh.
NSDMA issues advisory:
Don’t Panic
In a laudable act, the NSDMA toll-free emergency line was answered immediately when The Morung Express gave it a call after the tremor. After an initial assessment, the NSDMA issued a public advisory urging people not to panic but be to remain alert for aftershocks and take safety measures for families and communities.
“The NSDMA got in touch with all the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMAs) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRFs) Units and reported no damages to property and lives,” it added. The school authorities and other public and private offices are also advised to practices their mock drill in their own campuses for safety, it said.
“With frequent occurrences of earthquakes, it is best for everyone to be prepared with safety measures by building safe houses with earthquakes resistant technology and confirming to Nagaland building bylaws” it added.
