Imphal, November 16: The threat of an impending earth quake is hanging over the seismologically active North East region as the Indian plate has started to move beneath the Myanmar plate at the rate of 4.5 cm annually.

Following the plate movement, the North East region has been facing mild earthquakes regularly triggering fear of a massive earthquake anytime.

To minimise the extent of damages in the course of a quake rocking the region, Manipur University with financial backing from the Centre has started conducting awareness drive at 40 schools in the region.

Talking to The Sangai Express Seimologist of the Earth Science Department of MU, Dr Manichandra Sanoujam said that since the Indian plate has started moving under the Myanmar plate at the rate of 4.5 cm annually at 45 degree, there is apprehension that a massive earthquake may hit the North East region anytime.

The Seismologist further said that the North East region is among the top 6 earthquake prone zones in the world and added that if the movement of Indian plate intensifies, then the surrounding areas in the North East region will be rocked by the movement under.

Earthquakes have been recorded every day in Manipur, said Dr Manichandra and added that intensity of the quake is below the 3 point on the Richter scale.

The daily tremor indicates that the Indian plate is moving everyday and the direction of the movement is towards the North-North East, he informed.

To a question on whether the daily quake of the intensity of below 3 on the Richter scale has caused any damages, Dr Manichandra said that since the quake is mild it has not posed any serious threat to man or properties.

The last major quake in the North East was a long time back, said the Seismologist and added that the Earth Science Department of MU has the records dating back to 1622.Experts cannot exactly predict when an earth quake will come, he said and added that at the most experts can only warn and study the trend of the movement of the earth beneath.

If an earthquake of high magnitude hits the region, then the hills will bear more damages as the hills are covered with rocks while the soil in the valley areas are sedimentary types, said Dr Manichandra.

Manipur University has already conducted a minute study of the buildings in Greater Imphal area as well as its natural frequency (nature of tremor), said Dr Manichandra and added that a map on the natural frequency of Greater Imphal will be published next year.

A profile of the earth's layer of Greater Imphal will also be published, he added.

With fundings from the Centre, MU along with the Himalayan School Earthquake Laboratory Programme have started training teachers to impart awareness programme to school going students in the North East region.

Seismographs will also be installed at the schools.

Altogether 40 schools will be imparted the awareness programme in the first phase and in Manipur 6/7 schools have been equipped with seismographs.

The data recorded by the seismographs at the schools will be studied by MU for further course of action, added Dr Manichandra.

From 1963 till 2005, earthquakes measuring 4 on the Richter scale have been recorded 1611 times in Manipur, said Dr Manichandra.

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