PTI
 
Ultapani, Assam, Apr 26: There is a possibility of a massive earthquake striking the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam in the near future, a scientist of the Geological Survey of India has said.

K Mazumdar, a senior scientist of GSI currently heading a study team on earthquake alerts, on Wednesday told PTI here that a "quake with a magnitude of more than seven on the Richter scale could hit the area on the foothills of Bhutan in Assam's Kokrajhar district and it might extend north up to Kamrup district".

Heavy plate movement in the Himalayan foothills, the reverse flow of hill water streams in Ultapani and creation of tectonic ponds at Toporjhana, Majbhandar and Magarbeel were significant indications of an earthquake, he pointed out.

Noting that it was difficult to predict the time of such a quake, Mazumdar revealed that his team of GSI scientists had been conducting studies in the area since 2005, when there were the first indications of such a temblor.

He said the GSI had alerted authorities in Kokrajhar district to stop the felling of trees and to ban constructions across the area as a precautionary measure.