2 killed, 30 injured in Manipur earthquake

At least two people were killed and 30 injured as a powerful earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter Scale rocked Manipur and other north-eastern states early Monday. "Initial report indicates that one person was killed and 30 injured due to the earthquake," Inspector General of Police Clay Khongsai told IANS. "Public and private properties have been damaged. The district administration is on the job to rescue trapped persons," he said. Khongsai said they were yet to receive any report from Tamenglong district. According to the regional seismological centre in Meghalaya, an earthquake of moderate intensity rocked India's northeastern states and adjoining Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan Monday morning. The quake occurred at 4.35 a.m. and had its epicentre in Manipur's Tamenglong district. It was felt in parts of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura, said an official of the regional seismological centre in Meghalaya. India's northeast is considered the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world. The northeast has seen some of the biggest quakes in history. In 1897, the Shillong-epicentred quake measured 8.2 on the Richter scale. In 1950, an earthquake in Assam measuring 8.7 on the Richter Scale forced the mighty Brahmaputra river to change its course. In September 2011, Sikkim underwent heavy damage after a quake hit the state.   IANS/Agencies