Morigaon— Two people were injured after a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck central Assam in the early hours of Monday, officials said. The tremor was recorded at 4.17 am at a depth of 50 kilometres, with its epicentre in Morigaon district.
Minor damage was reported in parts of Morigaon, where cracks appeared in a few houses, particularly in areas bordering Nagaon district. However, district authorities said no major structural damage was reported.
The strong tremors were felt across the northeastern region, including central-western Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and parts of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and northern West Bengal. Reports also indicated that the quake was felt in central-eastern Bhutan, as well as parts of China and Bangladesh.
Panic spread as residents rushed out of their homes and gathered in open spaces. During the evacuation, a few people sustained injuries. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, 80-year-old Joymoti Dewri of Na Dalbori village in the Mikirbheta circle suffered a head injury while running out of her house. She was immediately taken to Morigaon Civil Hospital for treatment.
Another resident of the same village, Manoj Kumar, also sustained injuries and has been admitted to the hospital. District Public Relations Officer S Buragohain said his condition is stable and he is out of danger.
Officials from the District Disaster Management Authority confirmed that there were no reports of major damage or casualties. They continue to monitor the situation.
The Northeast region falls under a high seismic zone, making it prone to frequent earthquakes, officials noted.