The present paper is exhaustive documentation made from the post-earthquake damage survey conducted to analyse the major reasons for structural failure during six earthquakes, occurred over the last decade in the Northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent. In the beginning, an attempt is made to highlight the seismological reasons for the vulnerability of this region. Further, it presents the available building typology of this region and makes an attempt to analyse the reasons for the damage/collapse of each type of building. The reasons are primarily found to be lacking in the implementation of many well-known design guidelines, which are available in the design codes/well-accepted design documents. This document may be of immense help to the practising engineer to underline and visualise many common yet neglected issues during the design and construction of structures. This may, in turn, help to reduce the vulnerability of the structures of earthquake-prone developing countries.