A strong earthquake measuring 7.5 on Richter scale and centered at Nepal, rattled the entire Uttar Pradesh, resulting in death of 8 people besides leaving about three dozens other injured on Saturday morning.
State government has alerted all the district authorities particularly on the Indo-Nepal border to take necessary measures to forward relief to the victms. Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav has also talked to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi about the disaster. Panic stricken people in several parts of the State remained on roads and other open places all through the day apprehending more tremors.
In Gorakhpur people preferred to keep standing on the roads in the hot sunshine rather than staying inside anticipating more shocks. Met office director, J P Gupta too did not ruled out more after shocks and has issued alert in the state in the Morning soon after the first quake.
State government has also conveyed Nepal of all possible help in view of huge human and property loss there. Several international flights on way to Nepal have been diverted to airports at lucknow, Varanasi, Patna and Delhi as the Tribhuvan airport in Nepal has been damaged in the quake. A Jet Airways flight from Mumbai to Kathmandu has been redirected to Mumbai after a stop over in lucknow.
In Barabanki, Seema aka Badaki (42) and her daughter Shanti (6), were killed when their house roof collapsed in Basantpur village under Mohammadpur police station. Over 11 people were also injured in the incident. District Magistrate, Yogeshwar Ram Mishra here told media persons that a child and a woman were killed after a roof of one, Udal Yadav’s house collapsed due to the strong jolts of earthquake. Injured were rushed to the hospital and senior officials have rushed to the spot.
In Shivli locality of Kanpur Dehat, 10-year-old Aman Kumar, a resident of Rajpur, died after he was buried under the debris of the wall which collapsed over him. A 12-year-old boy returning from school in Shrawasti district was killed and one other was seriously injured due to the tremors of earthquake. A report of death of a 15-year-old girl Nisha, also came from Ikauna locality of Shravasti where a wall collapsed over the victim.
In Mehdaval area of Santkabirnagar, situated on the Indo-Nepal border, 9-year-old Kushbu, was buried alive in wall collapse while one Kanchana and her daughter were critically injured. Similar report has also come from the Gularia area of Gorakhpur district when a wall collapsed resulting to the death of a 38-year-old Basmati and Raj (3).
Emergency wards of various government hospitals including King George Medical University here , have been evacuated to face any kind of emergency challenge. Reports of cracks in walls of houses and other buildings are pouring from lucknow, Varanasi and several other districts. The telecom services were also affected owing to the strong jolts of earthquake.
In the meantime, the state government has ordered to close down all educational institutes. Principal Secretary of Information Department, Navneet Sehgal disclosed that Chief Minister AKhilesh Yadav has passed the instructions to all senior officers including Director General of Police, Chief Secretary and District Magistrate to rush to the affected areas and do the assessment of loss. Akhilesh Yadav, immediately called the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and informed his about the speculated loss. Sources said that, the PM Narendra Modi has assured him of full assistance.
Yadav has also appraised the Centre of the measures taken to ensure safety of the public. The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 7 lakhs to the kin of deceased, Rs 50,000 to those who were critically injured and Rs 20 thousands to those who received minor injuries.