At least 2 dead, over 20 injured as 6.8 magnitude earthquake hits Manipur

Imphal: At least two persons, including a girl, were killed and more than 20 others injured in Manipur in a high intensity earthquake that hit the north-east early this morning.The death toll could be as high as six, as reported by ANI.The Seismological department here said that the quake measured 6.8 on the Richter scale and lasted for about two minutes.[caption id="attachment_2568436" align="alignleft" width="380"] Representational image. PTI[/caption]The quake took place at 4.35 AM at a depth of 17 km below the ground with its epicentre at Tamenglong district of Manipur.A girl was killed in a building collapse at Tamenglong distrtict, while another person died at Taobungkhok village in Imphal West district, police said. Four persons were seriously injured in Tamenglong district while other casualties were reported from places like Imphal East and West district.Many buildings collapsed in Tamenglong while several others in Imphal, including the market complex, developed cracks, sources said.Electricity connection was cut off in the state soon after the quake and was yet to be restored. With inputs from PTI