Major earthquake hits Manipur in India

According to local time, it was 4.36 a.m. early Monday when I was shaken out of my sleep. As I’m having bouts of headache in recent weeks, I thought that the recurring nausea and dizziness had returned. But as my mind cleared, I realized it had nothing to do with my health. It was an #earthquake measuring 6.7 #magnitude, with its epicentre at Noney in Tamenglong district of our state, which hit northeast #India near its border with Myanmar and Bangladesh.

At least five people were killed and 100 injured by falling debris in and around #Imphal, the capital of #Manipur state, police said. Some of my neighbours ran out of their homes, and it was evident that no one has experienced an earthquake of such intensity in the past. Though it lasted only for less than a minute, it has left a trail of destruction all over Manipur.

Strong tremors were also felt in Guwahati, the capital of Assam state. Two of my daughters who are studying in Guwahati reported that many residents ran out of their houses. Though it is still too early to assess the damage and destruction the earthquake has caused, it has wreaked havoc all over the state. Many buildings, including one #Presbyterian church, were razed to the ground.

THE GENTLEMAN & THE BOAT

One day, a very scholarly gentleman, while travelling in India, decided to go across a big river, so he asked one of the village people who owned a small boat, if he would take him. The boatman agreed.

As they started, the sun became obscured by dark clouds, and as the river was large, the gentleman realised that it would take some time. So he started a conversation with the boatman. 

“Did you know that the sun is approximately 93,000,000 miles away, and yet it has provided heat and light, throughout the universe since time immemorial. If it was to shift, even a fraction of an inch out of its orbit, there would be total devastation?” The boatman replied, “My dear sir, I am just a simple man who has had no education, there is no way I could know of such information” “Then”, said the gentleman, “You are 25% fool”.

Some time passed, and as they were coming to the half-way mark, the thunder began to rumble. “Did you know notice the lightening, just before the rumbling sound”, The gentleman asked. He continued. “Do you know how that phenomenon occurs?” “No sir”, replied the boatman. “Its occurrence is due to the expansion of rapidly heated air,” the gentleman exclaimed, “ You are 50% fool.” 

About three-fourth of the way the weather completely changed. It became dark and started to rain heavily and started filling up the little boat with water clearly making it difficult for the boatman. But the foolish gentleman insisted on questioning.

“Do you know how we get rain?” “No sir,” was the reply.” “ The sun evaporates water from the sea, this gets stored in the clouds which then travel by wind power, then when they become full, it lets all the water go, over the land. That’s how we get rain.” “You are 75% fool” said the gentleman, now feeling very smug. 

Suddenly, the gentleman was interrupted from his basqueing by a loud cry from the boatman.

“Oh no! I have lost my oar and now the water is about to capsize the boat, we have no alternative but to swim the remainder of the way, luckily for us it is not very far.”

“But I can’t swim,” cried the gentleman, now seeing his own imminent death.

“Then my dear sir, you are 100% fool”, said the boatman.