IMPHAL, Jan 11 - The smoke and water coming out in Noney village after the massive earthquake struck Manipur are not related to any volcano, according to experts from Geology department of Delhi University.
�It has nothing to do with any sort of volcano. So there is no need to worry,� said Assistant Professor of Geology Dr Ningthoujam Pahari of Delhi University after visiting Noney area, about 65 km west of Imphal in Tamenglong district on Saturday.
The vapour was coming out due to different levels of temperature of surface and soil inside the earth, he said, adding that the water coming out from inside the ground was the groundwater and it was not related with any lava.
The shaken villagers of Kabui Khullen, the epicentre of the January 4 earthquake, had urged the authority to let them understand whether they are safe in their village. Amu Kamei, president of Zeliangrong Union had urged the State Government to conduct studies so that the apprehensions of the villagers could be removed.
Kabui Khullen has witnessed several cracks not only in the playground but in the floor of their houses during the tremor which claimed eight lives, besides injuring 120 others. More than 1,500 buildings and structures were also damaged in the State, according to preliminary official reports.
�Some researchers from Delhi University who visited here have warned us that our village will not be safe during the rainy season�, another villager said. There are also reports of creation of new springs with muddy water in Noney, close to the epicentre in Tamenglong.
On Thursday, a 14-member National Disaster Response Force team along with a State team organised an awareness programme on earthquake at Kabui Khullen while United Committee Manipur distributed relief materials to the needy villagers. A private hospital also organised a health camp at Noney.
The United Naga Council has demanded setting up of a permanent centre of NDRF, State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Management Authority and all related agencies in the sensitive zones. A memorandum has been submitted to the Prime Minister on January 6 in connection with the recent earthquake.
The memorandum also demanded constitution of technical experts team to carry out inquiry and investigate tunnels, tracks and bridges of Trans-Asian Railways from Jiribam to Tupul besides sending seismologists and geologists to study the situation. It further sought setting up of earthquake observatories in the sensitive zones and relief to the victims.
