Moderate quake jolts Sikkim; no report of casualty, damage

Exactly a year after a powerful earthquake killed 90 people and ravaged large parts of Sikkim, a moderate tremor measuring 4.1 jolted the state on Tuesday evening, sending people out of their homes, but there was no immediate report of casualty or damage to properties.

As the quake struck at around 5:55pm and lasted for about three seconds, people, with the devastation caused by last year's quake still fresh in memory, scampered out of their homes onto the roads and were reluctant to return fearing aftershocks.

Following the quake, the power supply was switched off by the authorities for about 20 minutes before it was restored but telecom and Internet links were disrupted.

Today's tremor came on a day when people across Sikkim performed 'puja' not only to remember those who perished in last year's quake but also praying against a repeat of the same disaster.