GUWAHATI, Sept. 14 — A 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled several northeastern states on Sunday afternoon, sending people rushing into the streets, but officials confirmed there was no immediate report of casualties or significant damage.
The National Center for Seismology said the quake struck at 4:41 p.m., with its epicenter located in Assam’s Udalguri district at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers. Tremors were felt widely across Assam, western Manipur, and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
In Guwahati, residents described scenes of panic as people rushed out of apartments and offices. Similar reports came from Udalguri, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Nalbari, and nearby districts. In Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, shopkeepers and families poured onto the streets in alarm.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, posting on X, noted that “the epicentre (of the earthquake) was near Udalguri. So far, there has been no report of any major damage or loss of life. We are actively monitoring the situation.”
Arunachal Pradesh disaster management secretary Dani Sulu also said the situation remained under control. “There are no reports of structural damage or casualties in the state so far. The situation is being closely monitored, but there is no cause for alarm,” he said.
Experts noted that the entire northeastern belt lies in a high seismic zone and is prone to recurrent earthquakes. Officials urged people to remain cautious but not panic, as monitoring agencies continue to track aftershocks and assess structural safety.
