People injured while fleeing homes as 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolts central Assam

An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck central Assam in the early hours of Monday, January 5, triggering panic among residents across large parts of the northeastern region, with reports of injuries as people rushed out of their homes, though no major damage to property was reported.

According to an official bulletin issued by the National Centre for Seismology, the quake was recorded at 4.17 am with its epicentre in Morigaon district on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra. 

The tremor originated at a depth of 50 kilometres, at latitude 26.37° North and longitude 92.29° East.

Meanwhile, two people were seriously injured in an earthquake in Morigaon district after sustaining head injuries while rushing out of their homes in panic.

The injured have been identified as Neeraj Kumar and Jaymati Deuri. According to local sources, both suffered head injuries while trying to escape from inside their houses immediately after the tremors were felt.

They were initially rescued by local residents and later admitted to Morigaon Civil Hospital for medical treatment. Hospital sources said the condition of both injured persons is stable, though they are being kept under observation due to the nature of their injuries.

The incident highlights the fear and confusion caused by the sudden earthquake, which forced many residents to run out of their homes in the early hours, leading to injuries in some cases. Authorities have urged people to remain calm and follow safety protocols during seismic events.

The strong tremors were felt across several districts of Assam, including Kamrup Metropolitan, Nagaon, Hojai, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and the Barak Valley districts, forcing people to rush out of their homes in panic. Tremors were also experienced in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, West Bengal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Officials said there were no reports of fatalities or large-scale damage.

Disaster management authorities remain on alert, noting that the northeastern region lies in a high seismic zone and is prone to frequent earthquakes. Residents have been advised to remain cautious and follow safety protocols in case of aftershocks.