4 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Northeast, Epicenter In Meghalaya

There has been no immediate report of casualty, injury, or damage to any structure from across the region due to the impact of the earthquake.

According to seismologists, the northeast experiences frequent earthquakes as the region falls in the seismic V zone.

Source : PTI

Guwahati: An earthquake of 4 magnitude jolted the northeastern states at 2.27 pm on Tuesday, causing panic among the people of the region. The quake occurred five kilometers beneath the earth’s surface with the epicenter located at West Garo Hills in Meghalaya. Tremors were felt in all its neighbouring states, including Assam’s state capital Guwahati.

There has been no immediate report of casualty, injury, or damage to any structure from across the region due to the impact of the earthquake. However, it left the people in many places panic-stricken as the northeastern region often experiences such earthquakes. People at home and office ran to safety as soon as the quake struck the region, with many of them frightened to return fearing an aftershock.

Ramu Basfor, a resident of Guwahati who was in his office when the quake struck, said, “I was working on the computer when I suddenly felt that the building was shaking. My other colleagues in the room soon started running helter-skelter and I too ran. We were on the fourth floor and by the time we reached the third floor it stopped. It lasted for about 5-6 seconds. Though we returned to our room, we are still scared that an aftershock may follow.”

Basfor said that it has become very worrisome as earthquakes hit the state quite frequently. He said that while in office or at home, a fear of a possible earthquake is always in his mind.  

According to seismologists, the northeast experiences frequent earthquakes as the region falls in the seismic V zone, and is surrounded by active thrust zones and subduction zones in the northern and eastern parts. Moreover, many active fault lines scattered within the northeast result in the region being seismically active.

The northeastern region has experienced several major earthquakes in the past with some of them changing the topography of the region.