Quake of 5.5 magnitude hits India-Bangladesh border region

An earthquake measuring 5.5 magnitude on the Richter scale hit the India-Bangladesh border region near Assam and Meghalaya on Saturday morning. The epicenter of the quake was said to be Karimganj in Assam. No casualties were reported. However, some buildings in Silchar in Assam were damaged in the quake. Local seismology sources said the quake was first felt around 7.01 am in most parts of the northeast region and neighboring Bangladesh. The tremor lasted for about four to five seconds, an official at the Regional Seismological Centre told agencies. The seven northeastern states, namely, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, are considered as the sixth major earthquake-prone region in the world. The region had experienced a horrible earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale in 1897. Over 1,600 people were killed in the quake.