An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 hit Assam early thismorning and strong tremors were felt in parts of the northeast as well as the northBengal, the National Center for Seismology said.
Although there are no reports of any casualty or loss oflives, photos and videos have emerged of broken walls and windows and at someplaces walls developing cracks.
Meanwhile, the aftershocks were also felt in severalparts of the northeast and neighbouring Bhutan which forced people to run outof their homes.
The epicentre of the earthquake was near Dhekiajuli town,140 km (86 miles) north of Guwahati. The earthquake struck at 7:51 am at adepth of 17 km from the surface.
Accordingto the disaster management officials in Guwahati, there are reports of damagesof buildings and roads in different parts of Sonitpur, Tezpur, Nagaon andadjoining areas but the detailed reports are awaited.
TheNCS data said that after the first quake, six aftershocks of magnitude 3.2 to4.7 on the Richter Scale were recorded over the next 2 hours 47 minutes in thevicinity of Sonitpur and Nagaon districts. Successive earthquakes in themountainous northeastern states specially in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur havethe authorities worried.
Seismologistsconsider the mountainous northeastern region as the sixth most earthquake-pronebelt in the world.
In1950, an earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale had altered the courseof the mighty Brahmaputra river, which passes by the congested Guwahati city.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his tweet said, “Spoketo Assam CM Shri @sarbanandsonwal Ji regarding the earthquake in parts of thestate. Assured all possible help from the Centre. I pray for the well-being ofthe people of Assam”.