NE NEWS SERVICE
GANGTOK, KATHMANDU, DHAKA, APR 5
An earthquake of 5.4 magnitude hit Sikkim on Monday night, the National Centre for Seismology said, with tremors being also felt in the eastern states of Assam, West Bengal and Bihar.
The quake occurred at 8.49 pm at a depth of 10 kilometres near the India-Bhutan border, the NCS said.
In Sikkim, panic-stricken people rushed out of their houses. There was no immediate report of any major damage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the chief ministers of Sikkiam, Bihar and Assam and took stock of the situation in eastern India following the quake, government sources said.
“PM Narendra Modi is taking stock of the damage due to the earthquake. He is speaking to chief ministers of all 4 affected states and has already spoken to the CMs of Bihar, Assam and Sikkim,” the sources said.
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said that he called up Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and enquired about her well-being as she is in Siliguri, where the tremors were felt.
“Had telephone conversation @MamataOfficial to enquire her well-being as Earthquake Tremors Felt In North Bengal. Hon”ble CM is at Siliguri presently. Relieved to learn all well at her end,” he tweeted.
The Himalayas are prone to earthquakes and are known for high-seismic activity.
Quake hits eastern Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh
Tremors were also felt in eastern parts of Nepal, Bhutan and northern Bangladesh after an earthquake measuring 5.4 magnitude struck the region on Monday night.
There were no reports of injuries or human casualties, Nepal’s My Republica newspaper said.
The epicenter of the quake was 25 kilometer east-Southeast of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim state in India.
A large number of people in eastern districts in Nepal had rushed out of their houses as precaution as the strong tremors triggered panic among them, the paper said.
The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported that the quake was also felt in Panchagarh in northern Bangladesh and panicked people rushed out of their houses.
Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner Sabina Yasmin said they were yet to receive any report of damage.
The quake reportedly also affected parts of China.
