Between 11.41 am and 3.02 pm on Saturday three high intensity earthquakes hit Bihar and left the entire population panicky as many people were killed and scores were injured in different districts of Bihar. The destruction was maximum in districts located on Bihar-Nepal border. The disaster management department has put the toll at 25 but unofficial figures pouring in from different districts claimed that as many as 47 people have been killed due to quake. MHA spokesperson, however, later in the evening put the death toll at 38.
Most of the deaths were reported from North Bihar, which is already reeling under the impact of cyclonic catastrophe that has claimed nearly 60 lives in three days. After Nepal, Bihar is the most affected region. The first tremor was measured 7.9 on Richter scale while two others were of low intensity. Darbhanga, Sitmarhi and East Champaran reported seven deaths each while some casualties were reported from Vaishali, Sheohar, Madhubani, West Champaran, Araria, Gopalgunj and lakhisarai as well as one south Bihar districts Rohtas. A sub-inspector reportedly died of a heart attack. In Kishanganj, some students were injured when a ceiling fan fell on them.
Most of the north Bihar districts fall under high seismic zone. Disaster Management principal secretary Vyasji said most people were kiiled after getting buried under buildings. The State Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs4 lakh to the kin of those killed in quake. Additional wards have been opened in Government hospitals in Patna, Darbhanga and other places and the doctors have been called on emergency duties.
In Patna, although no casualty has been reported, the citizens darted out of their homes, offices and shops and thousands trooped in Gandhi Maidan where many of them were still camping amid rumours of high intensity tremors. CM Nitish Kumar, who was in Delhi on a political mission, rushed back to the State on Saturday afternoon and held meeting with top officials and took the stock of the situation. He later visited Gandhi Maidan and other parks in the city to meet the residents and pursued them to go back to their homes and not to pay heed to the rumours. Cracks and damages could be seen in many high rise buildings, including the Biscomaun Bhavan in downtown Patna. Cracks were also reported in the middle of Darbangha-Samastipur bridge.