India’s Meteorological Department says the epicenter of the quake was in Tamenglong region of Manipur state. It struck before dawn on Monday at a depth of 17 kilometers (about 10 miles) in the India-Myanmar border region. The U.S. Geological Survey said the depth was 55 kilometers (about 34 miles).
The Northeast region of India is considered the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world. People panicked and rushed out of their homes in Gauhati, as they felt massive shaking at least twice within 60 seconds, The Associated Press reports, adding that in Imphal, residents said furniture was knocked over and books fell off shelves but no major damage has been reported so far. “The ground swayed for almost a minute, jolting people awake in their homes,” Apem Arthur, a resident told AP. The area is dotted with small houses. There are few tall buildings in the region, she said. The tremors were also felt in Kolkata.
-Agencies
