5.4-magnitude quake rocks Assam, Meghalaya

Guwahati/Shillong, May 11 (IANS) A 5.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Assam and Meghalaya Friday evening, triggering panic among locals. No casualties have been reported.

According to the Regional Seismological Centre in Shillong, the earthquake occurred at 6.11 p.m. The epicentre was at Nagaon in Assam.

The tremor was felt in almost all districts in Assam. Some buildings in Assam's main city of Guwahati were seen to have developed cracks after the tremor.

In Meghalaya, the tremor created panic among locals. 'Our apartment was literally swaying for close to about 15 seconds. We rushed out of our home in panic,' said Kester Thabah.

'People panicked and ran out of their homes and offices with buildings shaking for close to 20 seconds,' said John Sangma, who was on his way home from his office.

East Khasi Hills District Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal, said that there have been no reports of any damaged caused by the quake.

Moderate tremors were also felt in Kolkata, its surrounding districts and northern West Bengal.

The seven northeastern states - Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur - are considered by seismologists as the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world.

The region experienced one of the worst earthquakes, measuring 8.7 on the Richter Scale in 1897 that claimed the lives of over 1,600 persons.