In the last month, many small earthquakes have been reported from in and around Assam. Although the tremors felt are minimal, speculations are that a big earthquake can be anticipated.
In the light of such fear, let’s recall the two most devastating earthquakes that shuddered the region in the past two centuries and its impact on Guwahati - the first one in 1897 (also known as the Great Assam Earthquake), and the other in 1950.
Although great losses were recorded during both the earthquakes, the damages of the 1950 quake can be said to be minimal compared to the damages incurred in the former one.
On the faithful evening of 12th June, 1897, at about 5:15 PM as Guwahatians celebrated Muharram, a tremor rocked the entire northeastern region. Its intensity was recorded at 8.7 magnitude on the Richter scale and its epicentre was at Cherrapunjee. The actual earthquake lasted for about two and a half minutes. The initial shock was preceded by a rumbling underground noise which lasted for about 3 minutes.
Edward Albert Gait, an administrator in the Indian Civil Service wrote in his history of Assam, “Signs of some impending change could be felt from 10th June onwards, as the sky was covered in sudden dark clouds. Heavy rainfall continued from the afternoon of 12th June till the next day.”
The earthquake left an area of 150,000 square miles in ruins and was felt over one and a quarter million square miles from the Western Burmese border to almost near New Delhi. The earthquake was accompanied by a very marked undulation of the ground, different accounts placing the lengths of these undulations from 8 feet to 10 yards, and their heights from 1 to 3 feet.
The Brahmaputra rose by 7.6 feet and flowed upstream near the banks. Dead fishes, dolphins, turtles floated in large numbers, blocking all kinds of river transport. The road along the river subsided in several places. At few other places, springs of water with very fine sand, the colour of Portland cement, bubbled up and the bubbling lasted 24 hours.
In Guwahati, the railway lines disappeared at many places, and cracks appeared on the roads. A large crack was formed in the Strand Road (now MG Road), from Sukreswar temple till Bharalumukh. The temple in the Umananda island (then called the Peacock Island) suffered badly along with the Sukreswar temple, Christ Church and the High Court buildings. But the North Brook Gate remained intact without any visible damage.
A total of 1582 deaths were recorded, 5 from Guwahati. Anil Nagar and Bhangagarh areas were highland prior to the earthquake but subsided significantly after the tremors.
The newly constructed Gauhati Railway Station was a shambles and its reconstruction started only after two years. Even the construction of Cotton College had to be halted for two years.
The Great Assam Earthquake was followed by another major tremor on 15th August, 1950 at about 7:40 PM. The epicentre was located in the Mishmi Hills, just east of the Himalayas in the Northeast Frontier Agency part of Assam. With an intensity of 8.6 on the Richter scale, the main quake lasted for about 4 minutes. It was followed by many minor tremors at every 5 to 10 minutes interval.
Although its effect in the state was limited, about 1,526 fatalities were recorded. The water levels on River Brahmaputra rose high after the earthquake, bringing down sand, mud, trees and all kinds of debris. Pilots flying over the meizoseismal area (the area of maximum damage) reported great changes in topography.
