News Analysis India

Tag: Sonitpur

  • Assam experiences fifth tremor in 24 hours, 4.2-magnitude earthquake rocks state

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: A 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck Assam in the early hours of Saturday, the fifth such tremor to hit the northeastern region during the past 24 hours, officials said.

    A National Center for Seismology report said the latest quake was recorded at 1.07 am, with its epicentre near Tezpur, the headquarter of Sonitpur district, at a depth of 30 kms.

    There was no immediate report of injury or damage to property.

    The state was rocked by two more quakes, including a 4.1-magnitude one early on Friday, which also had its epicentre in Sonitpur district.

    Besides Assam, an earthquake of magnitude 3 with epicentre in Chandel district of Manipur was recorded on Friday, and another 2.6-magnitude tremor with epicentre in West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.

    No loss of life or property has been reported in any of the temblors.

    The northeastern region sits over a high seismic zone, making it prone to earthquakes.

    A strong 6.4-magnitude quake had shaken Assam on April 28.

  • Six aftershocks follow Assam’s 6.4 magnitude earthquake, no casualties reported

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: A massive earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hit Assam on Wednesday morning, causing widespread damage in the Northeast state. The quake was followed by six aftershocks.

    The National Centre of Seismology (NCS) said six aftershocks of magnitude, ranging from 3.2 to 4.7, occurred within two and half hours from the time of the occurrence of mainshock of 6.4 Magnitude, signifying the release of the stress in the vicinity of the source zone in and around Sonitpur district of Assam.

    The epicentre of the earthquake was closer to the plate boundary and located at about 80 Km north-east of Guwahati; 132 km north of Shillong and 180 km west of Jorhat.

    Few early pictures of damage in Guwahati. pic.twitter.com/lTIGwBKIPV
    — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 28, 2021

    “The preliminary analysis shows that the events are located near to Kopili Fault closer to Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT). The area is seismically very active falling in the highest Seismic Hazard zone V associated with collisional tectonics where Indian plate subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate,” the NCS said in a statement.

    Images of the damage in Guwahati due to the #earthquake. Inmates of a number of apartments in Guwahati are not going back to their accommodations as they developed cracks.@prasmaz_tnie pic.twitter.com/RVALxRxIoE
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) April 28, 2021

    It said the historical and instrumentally-recorded earthquake data (NCS catalogue) revealed that the region is affected by moderate to large earthquakes and the most prominent events among those are the July 29, 1960, Assam earthquake of Magnitude 6.

    “The earthquake (of Wednesday) is felt in the entire North East region of India and some parts of Bihar, West Bengal and Bangladesh. More than 70 felt reports due to this earthquake, have been received from Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and Bangladesh through the NCS website and Mobile App having intensity ranging from I to V on Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale Figure 3.

    Damages to buildings also reported within 100 km from the epicentre in areas of Sonitpur, Nagaon and Guwahati as received from Central Seismological Observatory, NCS, Shillong,” the statement said.

  • Earthquake of magnitude 6.4 hits Assam’s Sonitpur, no casualties reported

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI/ NEW DELHI: A massive earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hit Assam on Wednesday morning, causing widespread damage in the Northeast state, officials said.

    Tremors were felt in the entire region, including neighbouring Meghalaya and northern parts of West Bengal, they said.

    Few early pictures of damage in Guwahati. pic.twitter.com/lTIGwBKIPV
    — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 28, 2021

    The quake hit Sonitpur district at 7.51 am, they added.

    It was followed by two more jerks of 4.3 and 4.4 magnitudes at 7.58 am and 8.01 am, respectively.

    Most parts of the region felt the impact of the massive earthquake as people ran out of their homes and other places in panic.

    Images of the damage in Guwahati due to the #earthquake. Inmates of a number of apartments in Guwahati are not going back to their accommodations as they developed cracks.@prasmaz_tnie pic.twitter.com/RVALxRxIoE
    — The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) April 28, 2021

    Many buildings in Tezpur, the district headquarters of Sonitpur, Guwahati and other places developed cracks.

    Detailed reports are awaited regarding casualty.

  • Assam polls: Rs 4,58,600 cash seized in Sonitpur district

    By PTI
    TEZPUR: A total of Rs 4,58,600 in cash has been seized by flying squads from different parts of Sonitpur district in lower Assam on Monday, police said.

    An amount of Rs 1,93,200 was seized from a pick-up van by a flying squad during regular checking of vehicles at Genjengaguri in Dhekiajuli.

    The owner claimed that he was on his way back after collecting the money from Mariani in Jorhat district against supply of vegetables, a police officer said.

    Another seizure of Rs 60,100 was made by a static surveillance team from a vehicle at the permanent check post set up at Saikiachuburi, under Dhekiajuli police station.

    The person carrying the amount claimed that the money was meant for business purposes.

    An amount of Rs 1,08,300 was seized by a static surveillance team from a person during checking at Keherukhunda under Borchalla legislative assembly constituency.

    A sum of Rs 97,000 was seized from a person at Gadhajuli (Dhekiajuli) by an another team.

    Since neither of the owners could produce relevant documents against the source of money seized, officials said the cash was sent to Tezpur Treasury and they have been asked to produce documents and follow the necessary procedure for claiming the money back.

    As per guidelines of the ECI, during the electioneering phase, the general public have to possess valid documents if they are carrying cash above Rs 50,000 and unexplained cash above that amount will be seized immediately and released only when proven that it is not related to the elections in any way.

    Elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held in three phases on March 27, April one and April six.