GUWAHATI - Panic has gripped people in the northeast with four earthquakes rocking the region in the past three weeks, including a 5.9 magnitude tremor Friday, the biggest in the past nine years.
Everyone is asking the same question - are we prepared to deal with a major disaster? We have not seen any urgency on the part of the government to activate its disaster management cells, said Arun Mahanta, a doctor.
Friday’s pre-dawn tremor was the fourth to have jolted the region in the past three weeks - an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale took place Monday, while another of 4.9 magnitude was experienced Aug 19, and a tremor of 5.6 intensity shook the region Aug 11.
A major earthquake in the region is due any time. We are saying this on the basis of studies, although earthquakes cannot be predicted as such, said Surjya Kanta Sarmah, a professor of geophysics at Gauhati University.
All the four tremors shook houses and other structures in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura, besides being felt in Myanmar as well.
Obviously we are worried and there is a general sense of panic among people in the entire region, said Monto Singh, a college teacher in Manipur capital Imphal.
Authorities in the northeast are yet to react or show any urgency even after frequent quakes rocked the region.
There should have been awareness campaigns and public announcements about the do’s and don’ts in the event of an earthquake. But we have not seen any such steps from the government, said Mrinal Das, a geologist in Guwahati.
The seven northeastern states - Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur - are considered by seismologists as the sixth major earthquake prone belt in the world. The region experienced one of the worst earthquakes, measuring 8.7 on the Richter Scale, in 1897 that claimed the lives of over 1,600 people.
Related News
Small earthquake strikes area of eastern California shaken by recent sequence of tremorsOctober 9th, 2009 Small earthquake strikes eastern CaliforniaLONE PINE, Calif. — An earthquake has struck a remote area of eastern California that has been shaken by a sequence of tremors in the past week.
Remote area of eastern Calif. again by new series of earthquakes after temblors last weekOctober 3rd, 2009 Remote part of eastern Calif. shaken by temblorsLONE PINE, Calif.
Bhutan to hold special prayers after quake, 12 deaths reportedSeptember 22nd, 2009 SAMDRUP JHONKHAR - Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigme Yoser Thinley will be among those joining a special prayer ceremony led by senior Buddhist monks Tuesday after an earthquake the day before claimed 12 lives and left a trail of destruction in this Himalayan nation. A senior Bhutanese government official said the council of ministers led by the prime minister will join a mass prayer at a monastery in the capital Thimphu.
Strong earthquake rocks India's northeast, Bhutan (Second Lead)September 21st, 2009 GUWAHATI/KOLKATA/THIMPU - An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale rocked parts of Assam, other north-eastern states of India, West Bengal and neighbouring Bhutan Monday afternoon causing damage to various properties in both the countries. The tremors were felt at 2.26 p.m.
10 killed as earthquake rocks Bhutan and India's northeast (Night Lead)September 21st, 2009 GUWAHATI/THIMPU - A high magnitude earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale Monday killed at least 10 people in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan and left dozens more injured, while several buildings developed cracks in India's northeastern state of Assam. Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BSS), the national broadcaster, quoted Bhutanese government officials and witnesses as confirming 10 deaths.
Another tremor jolts northeast, Monday's quake toll 11September 21st, 2009 GUWAHATI - Another earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale shook India's northeast and adjoining Myanmar early Tuesday. The death toll in Monday's tremor in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan rose to 11, officials said.
Earthquake strikes Bhutan, tremors felt in LhasaSeptember 21st, 2009 LHASA - An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale jolted Bhutan Monday afternoon and the tremors were felt in Lhasa, authorities said. The tremors struck at 4:53 p.m.
Quake jolts Assam, other northeast statesSeptember 21st, 2009 GUWAHATI - An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale rocked parts of Assam and other northeastern states of India Monday afternoon. The tremors were felt at 2.26 p.m.
Earthquake rocks Assam, other statesSeptember 21st, 2009 GUWAHATI - A high magnitude earthquake rocked Assam and other states of northeast India Monday afternoon. The tremors were felt at 2.26 p.m.
Moderately strong earthquake strikes in eastern Albania, causes damage, no injuriesSeptember 7th, 2009 Quake in Albania causes damage no injuriesTIRANA, Albania — Albanian authorities say an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.4 in the northeast of the country caused some damage but no injuries. The Albanian Institute of Seismology says the quake struck at 11:49 p.m.
Tremor jolts Northeast, fourth quake in three weeksSeptember 3rd, 2009 GUWAHATI - A moderate earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale shook India's northeast before dawn Friday, triggering panic among sleeping residents in the region that experienced the fourth tremor in the past three weeks, officials said. An official at the regional seismological centre in Shillong, capital of Meghalaya, said the tremor took place at 1.21 a.m.
Small earthquake reported near SC coast, no immediate reports of injuries or damageAugust 29th, 2009 Weak SC earthquake rattles communitiesSUMMERVILLE, S.C. — The U.S.
Earthquake jolts northeastAugust 19th, 2009 GUWAHATI - An earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale jolted most of northeastern India Wednesday afternoon, though there were no reports of injury or damage. The quake was recorded at 4.15 p.m.
Earthquake rolls across Colorado's southeastern plains but causes no damageAugust 18th, 2009 Earthquake rolls across southeastern Colo. plainsLAMAR, Colo.
Rainfall, power crisis grips northeastJune 26th, 2009 AGARTALA/GUWAHATI - The entire northeastern region has been plagued by a serious power crisis for the past one month following a prolonged dry spell and lowering of the water level in rivers and water reservoirs, officials said Friday. "Though the southwest monsoon came into northeast India during the end of last month, the rainfall scenario in most of the states is even worse," Tripura power corporation chairman-cum-managing director Dipak Ganguly told reporters in Agartala.
Loading ...