Experts to study buildings damaged in Manipur quake

Imphal, Jan 6 (IANS) A three-member team of experts arrived here on Wednesday to examine the buildings damaged in Monday’s earthquake that left eight people dead.

The team from the Industrial Training Institute at Roorkee will examine market complexes at New Market and Laxmi Market here that suffered damages in the 6.7-magnitude quake that also injured some 120 people.

The team will remain here till January 11 and will decide if the buildings need renovation or should be demolished for new construction.

The Manipur government has blamed the National Buildings Construction Corp (NBCC), under the union ministry of urban development, for poor quality construction.

State minister K. Ratan and Chief Secretary O. Nabakishore said the state government had no role in the construction of the complexes.

T. Chaoba, the Bharatiya Janata Party president in Manipur, has demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

A health department team is also visiting the interior areas and treating the injured.