Already devastated, Nepal on Tuesday suffered another powerful earthquake of 7.3-magnitude that killed at least 50 people and injured over 1,000 in the Himalayan Kingdom and claimed 19 lives in India, 18 in Bihar and one in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
The earthquake, that struck less than three weeks after the temblor that claimed over 8,000 lives in Nepal on April 25, occurred at 12:35 pm, some 83 km East of Kathmandu near Mount Everest at a depth of 15 km, the US Geological Survey said.
The agency had earlier measured the quake at 7.4 on the Richter Scale but later revised the intensity to 7.3. The quake hit Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk districts, the worst-affected areas in last month’s temblor. At least 50 people were killed while another 1,117 were injured due to Tuesday’s quake, according to Nepal Home Ministry.
The fresh quake triggered massive panic among the people, who have been staying in the open since the 7.9-magnitude temblor struck on April 25, killing over 8,000 people and flattening thousands of buildings, besides destroying whole villages.
“All available helicopters along with Medical Team; SSR Team going to be mobilised to Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk soon,” said Nepal’s National Emergency Operation Centre.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has stationed eight helicopters in Nepal and one of them conducted an aerial survey soon after the quake. As many as six aftershocks measuring over 5 on the Richter Scale kept people on edge.
Nepal’s only international airport, the Tribhuvan International Airport, was briefly closed by authorities and flights to Kathmandu were diverted. Authorities have also ordered all schools to be closed for the next two weeks. Strong tremors of the quake were felt in the Capital Kathmandu where people ran out of their houses in panic and some even started crying. Authorities appealed to people to stay put in open fields.
The temblor triggered landslides and toppled buildings in Nepal that recently witnessed its worst quake in over 80 years and over 160 aftershocks. The quake had its impact in several cities in Bihar, West Bengal and UP and tremors were felt across vast stretches of East and North-East India, where the death toll has reached 19 so far. The tremors were felt for over 30 seconds in the National Capital with people rushing out of their homes and offices in panic. The tremors were also felt in China, where one woman was killed in Tibet.
Reports from Patna said that the quake triggered panic and fear among the people in Bihar and claimed 18 lives in different districts amid the apprehension of more casualties. After the April 25 earthquake and series of aftershocks Tuesday’s temblor caused deep fear among the people who were yet to overcome the trauma caused by the quake a fortnight ago.
Most of the deaths were caused due to shock, stampede, heart attack and building collapses. As a precautionary measure the Bihar Government declared summer vacation in all the schools from Wednesday, three days ahead of schedule. The districts most affected by the tremors were Patna, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, Katihar, Siwan and Chhapra from where 13 deaths were reported. The Government has confirmed six casualties.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who held a crisis management meeting said all the district officials have been put on alert and asked to provide relief to those in need. He said all the parks will remain open at night and officials were asked to provide light and drinking water facilities there.
“The Government will provide relief and assistance to all the quake victims and compensation will be given to the kin of deceased persons as per rules. There is widespread fear but the people need not panic and keep patience,” said the CM who cautioned them against rumour-mongering and abuse of social media.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi who was to release a book in Raj Bhawan rushed out as did a number of Ministers who were holding official meetings. The Governor however released the book later. BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi came out in the open in the midst of his janata darbar. A BJP legislator Nitin Navin who was sitting on a 24-hour dharna left in a huff. “With so many tremors during the past one fortnight we have become immune,” said one Minister who darted out of his office in the Secretariat.
A dozen school children were injured in Zila Public School in Darbhanga during the melee to run out of classrooms. In Patna citizens were seen running out of their homes and rushing towards open places.
IMD forewarns more tremors
IMD scientists on Tuesday said that aftershocks can continue for weeks or even months. “Today’s earthquake was an aftershock and similar ones could take place for months,” said lS Rathore, chief of the India Meteorological Department.
The Director of Seismology department of IMD, Jl Gautam on Tuesday also gave details into the fresh tremors that hit Nepal and parts of northern India. Gautam said that tremors were felt as aftershocks of the previous 7.8 magnitude quake that hit Nepal 16 days ago.
The earthquake was at the same rupture zone where the 7.9 magnitude tremor devastated Kathmandu on April 25, they said.
Indian Army lends a hand again
The Indian Army said in a statement on Tuesday that its teams are assessing the damage and working in close coordination with the Nepal Army. Advanced light Helicopters continue to be employed for rescue efforts in Pokhra and adjoining areas in spite of weather and terrain limitations and have conducted eight sorties and brought to safety 27 people, besides delivering nearly eight tonnes of relief material to inaccessible areas.The Indian Army Field Hospital at Sinamangal treated seven Nepal Police personnel with minor injuries apart from activating two medical teams with ambulance for receiving casualties at Kathmandu Airport, the statement said.
PM takes stock, NDRF on alert
With a major earthquake rocking parts of India on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and directed all authorities concerned to be on alert for rescue and relief operations as required. “PM took stock of the situation following the fresh earthquake in Nepal and parts of India, at a meeting here,” the PMO said. “PM directed all concerned authorities to be on alert for carrying out rescue and relief operations,” it added. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been put on alert . “We are collecting details and information about any damage in India. NDRF has been placed on alert,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in after a meeting on Tuesday.