Earthquake of magnitude 6.4 hits Assam; no loss of life reported

According to National Centre for Seismology, the quake struck at 7.51am and its epicentre was in Sonitpur district. Four aftershocks ranging from 4.7 to 3.6 on the Richter scale were recorded within the next hour

Published on: Apr 28, 2021, 11:35:36 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale shook large parts of lower Assam on Wednesday morning causing damage to several buildings. There has been no report of loss of lives.

An earthquake-damaged building at Bhetapara in Guwahati, early on Wednesday, April 28. (PTI)

According to National Centre for Seismology, the quake struck at 7.51am and its epicentre was in Sonitpur district. It had a depth of 17 km and according to estimates, lasted for nearly 30 seconds.

Four aftershocks ranging from 4.7 to 3.6 on the Richter scale were recorded within the next hour.

Several buildings in Guwahati, including few apartment blocks and a five-star hotel, reported cracks in the walls and damage to boundary walls. At least two buildings in Nagaon located 120 km away have suffered damages.

Also Read | Assam imposes night curfew across state till May 1

In Dhekiajuli, the epicentre of the quake, there were reports of cracks appearing in fields and water bursting out from the gaps. It couldn’t be verified immediately if the cracks were caused by the quake.

Damages were reported in buildings at Tezpur town, located 180 km away from Guwahati. There are no reports of any casualty due to the quake.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and DONER (ministry of development of north eastern region) minister Jitendra Singh spoke to chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

“PM Shri Narendra Modiji has taken stock of the damage due to the earthquake over phone with me and has assured all support to Assam,” Sonowal tweeted.

According to National Centre for Seismology, the first aftershock measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale was recorded at 8.03am, 12 minutes after the first one. It was followed by one at 8.13am (4.0), another at 8.25am (3.6) and the last one at 8.44am (3.6).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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