Manipur earthquake toll rises to seven, 50 injured

IMPHAL: With the death of one more person, the earthquake toll in Manipur rose to seven this afternoon but no casualties were reported from Tamenglong district where the epicentre was located, officials said.

Seven persons, including an 11-year-old girl, were killed in Imphal West district from where most casualties were reported, state officials said.

The seven casualties were reported from Jiribam area in the district but the name of the deceased were not known, the officials said.

At least 50 persons were injured from all over the state, Army officials said.

They have been admitted to RIMS, JNIMS and Shija Hospital, theu added.

In Tamenglong, the epicenter of the temblor, district officials said so far no casualties have been reported but four persons were seriously injured in house collapses.

"The epicentre was near the river Barak, so there was little damage. Though cracks have been reported from many houses, so far there has been no report of any casualty," Additional Deputy Commissioner Joseph Paulin told PTI.

He said that though a bridge in the western part of the district over the river has been damaged, but connectivity was not a major problem with Imphal, located 146 km from district headquarter.

Besides Army, IAF and NDRF, the Assam Rifles was also engaged in relief operations, the state officials said.