A moderate earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale rattled Assam and other northeastern states in the early hours of Monday, leaving three people injured. The seismic event sent tremors through the region, prompting residents to flee their homes in panic.
Details of the Seismic Event and Injuries
The quake was recorded at 4:17 am, with its epicentre located in the Morigaon district of Assam. The tremors were strongly felt in Guwahati, approximately 80 kilometres away, and across central, lower, and northern parts of the state.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), three individuals sustained injuries while attempting to escape to safety. Joymoti Dewri (80), from Nadalbori village in the Mikirbheta revenue circle, suffered a head injury. She was treated at Morigaon Civil Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
The other two injured persons are Neeraj Kumar (24) and Uttam Deka (49), both from Morigaon town. Neeraj sustained a forehead injury, while Uttam suffered a leg fracture. "Both individuals panicked and were injured in their homes. They were treated and discharged later in the day," stated Ranju Sarma, the district project officer at the Morigaon District Disaster Management Authority.
The Kopili Fault Zone: A Seismic Hotspot
The epicentre of Monday's tremor was situated close to the seismically active Kopili Fault Zone (KFZ). An ASDMA official noted that the quake originated about 50 km below the Earth's surface, a depth that likely helped limit more widespread damage. However, reports indicated cracks in some houses and buildings in Nagaon and Morigaon districts.
Geologists explain that the KFZ is a significant tectonic structure in the region. It runs from western Manipur through Assam, separating the Shillong Plateau and the Mikir Hills Plateau, and continues through Nagaon and Morigaon before extending into Arunachal Pradesh. This fault line is a known source of major historical earthquakes, including:
- The 1869 Cachar earthquake (magnitude 7.5)
- The 1943 Hojai earthquake (magnitude 7.3)
- The 1941 Tezpur earthquake (magnitude 6.5)
- The 2001 Bhutan earthquake (magnitude 6.9)
The fault zone, named after the Kopili River, is approximately 300 km long and 50 km wide. Seismic activity here has remained high, with at least 11 moderate earthquakes (magnitude between 5.0 and 6.7) recorded between 1984 and 2019.
Limited Structural Damage Reported
Officially, no major property damage was reported at the time of the initial assessment. The quick response from disaster management authorities ensured the injured received prompt medical attention. The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of the northeastern region, which sits on one of the world's most seismically active zones.
The event serves as a stark reminder for enhanced preparedness in earthquake-prone areas. While this tremor resulted in minor injuries, the historical potency of the Kopili Fault Zone underscores the ever-present risk of more significant seismic events in India's Northeast.
