Central assistance to the north-eastern states

Guwahati: Central assistance to the north-eastern states, for earthquake damages in Manipur, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said. i

“The prime minister has asked me to coordinate with all the chief ministers of the north-eastern states. I have spoken to almost all of them. However, I could not contact the Manipur chief minister (Okram Ibobi Singh). The Manipur chief secretary told me the damage is more in the state. The Centre will extend all required assistance to the north-eastern states to deal with the crisis,” the minister told the media here.

“I have also spoken to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi-ji and taken stock of the situation,” Rajnath Singh, on a two-day visit to Assam since Sunday, said.

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake shook the north-eastern region of India and neighbouring countries around 4.35 a.m. on Monday.

While the temblor shook most north-eastern states, it is feared to have caused more damage in Manipur although the exact loss is yet to be ascertained.

The Manipur government’s officials said at least four people died while around 50 people were injured.

Rajnath Singh arrived in Silchar in Assam’s Barak Valley on Sunday and inspected the Indo-Bangladesh border at Steamerghat border outpost on the international border and addressed a public rally there.

He is scheduled to visit the Sonahat border outpost in Dhubri sector on the India-Bangladesh border on Monday and is likely to address a public rally in Dhubri before returning to New Delhi on Monday evening.