JOIN USManipur numb after earthquake
The people of Manipur were left shaken after a powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter Scale rocked the state capital Imphal and other remote areas in the wee hours of Monday.
At least eight people were killed and over a hundred injured, according to official sources. While three people died in Imphal East district, three others died in Imphal West. Two more deaths were reported in Senapati district.
The after shock which was lower in intensity left the state capital numbed, tensed and anxious.
“The entire Imphal city was fast asleep when the tremors started. It was a series of massive jolts which almost lasted for a minutes. Imphal had never experienced this kind of earthquakes. Everything started falling apart. People ran out of their home, but since it was cold outside people again entered their homes. But the after shock left everyone traumatised. Now people are looking for safer places,” said Sarat Chandra Sarma , a journalist from Imphal.
The state government soon sprung into action and all the markets were evacuated and cordoned off. People from vulnerable areas were moved out and sheltered in makeshift relief camps, official sources said.
“We have taken all necessary steps. All emergency services have been pulled in. We have taken help from the Centre. In remote and rural areas, the Assam Rifles and the Indian Army are helping us in rescue and relief operations. This has been a massive hit.
Had it happened in the busy hours the toll might have increased,” said Chief Minsiter Okram Ibobi Singh.
There has been huge lost to property and infrastructure. The famous Ima Keithel Market, an all women market in the state capital was severely damaged, apart of it collapsed.
Minuthong Bridge, a key bridge in the state capital also developed cracks while several other building collapsed. The locals alleged that most of the buildings that have collapsed are government buildings and were made with inferior quality of materials.
The domestic terminal of Imphal Airport which was been recently accorded the status of an international airport developed major cracks, so has been the case with BSNL main building and the Old Secretariat building. Major roads have caved in at places and electric poles fell on roads, resulting in power cuts.
In the other parts of the state and the region near the epicentre in Tamenglong, the loss in terms of death has been minimal since it is sparely populated, government sources added. But the fact remains that ground information from remote areas in Tamenglong bordering Myanmar is still awaited. The Himalayan state of Sikkim also felt the tremors. The state was ravaged by a massive earthquake in 2011.