A powerful earthquake rocked many parts of Assam including Guwahati early on Wednesday morning. At about 7:51 A.M an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale was reported to have originated at its epicenter in Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district of Assam. There were at least two more powerful aftershocks.
People living in different parts of the state including the state capital region of Dispur, Guwahati in Kamrup district, as well as cities and villages in the districts of Nagaon, Sonitpur, Darrang and Tezpur reported feeling powerful tremors. In Guwahati, damage has been reported from Hotel Taj Vivanta, VK Tower and Dispur Hospital, as well as many housing societies. Cracks have appeared in the ground and also in walls and ceilings, forcing people to find alternate shelter amidst the raging Covid-19 pandemic.
Manas Roy, a social worker from Guwahati, told SabrangIndia, “There was damage to our homes and this has led to widespread panic, as there are cracked walls and ceilings inside the house, but Covid outside.” Roy also shared the following pictures with us:
Images from other parts of the state also show damage where cracks in the ground run close to or underneath huts in villages:
While no casualties have been reported so far, some people are reported to have been injured. There are reports of waterlogging in some areas due to bursting of undergound water pipelines. A portion of a hillock in Bhairankunda was also reported to have collapsed due to the earthquake. There are reports that tremors were also felt in North Bengal and other parts of the North East.
The Assam administration swung into action and posted helpline numbers:
Reach out to Control Room Numbers of @sdma_assam for any kind of assistance.
State Emergency Operation Centre: 1070, 1079 (Toll Free)
District Emergency Operation Centre: 1077 (Toll Free)#AssamEarthQuake https://t.co/qsUGlRa8ut
— Assam Police (@assampolice) April 28, 2021
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