[2][3] The quake struck with an epicenter 140 km (86 miles) north of the main city of Guwahati.

The tectonics of the Assam region is dominated by convergence of the India, Burma and Eurasian plates.

The earthquake occurred as a result of oblique-slip faulting at a shallow depth just at the foothills of the Himalayas.

[4][5] Analysis by India's National Centre for Seismology revealed that the earthquake involved slip along the Kopili Fault, near the Main Frontal Thrust.

[14] Two people in the Kamrup Metro and Nagaon districts died of heart attacks caused by the earthquake while 12 others suffered injuries.