6.7 magnitude earthquake rocks India’s Jewish community

A view of the damage in Churachandpur, India after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the area on Jan. 4, 2015 SHAVEI ISRAEL PHOTO
A view of the damage in Churachandpur, India after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the area on Jan. 4, 2015 SHAVEI ISRAEL PHOTO

Churachandpur, INDIA — A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern India, inflicting damage on the infrastructure of the Jewish community of Churachandpur.

The non-profit Shavei Israel reported in a statement Monday that the homes and property of the Bnei Menashe community there had incurred “extensive damage.”

No one in the community of 7,000 was harmed.

“We are in touch with the leaders of the Bnei Menashe community throughout northeastern India. Miraculously no one in the community was harmed, but we are concerned by reports of damage to homes and property,” Shavei Israel chairman and founder Michael Freund said.

The earthquake struck at 4:35 a.m. local time on Monday morning 32 kilometres northwest of Imphal, the capital of Manipur. At least six people were killed and at least 79 were injured.

Shavei Israel has set up a relief fund for victims affected by the earthquake.