KATHMANDU, May 12:
A new 7.3-magnitude earthquake and several powerful aftershocks shook Nepal today killing at least 42 people and triggering panic in the Himalayan nation already devastated by a massive temblor less than three weeks back that had claimed over 8,000 lives.
Nepal’s Home Ministry while putting the death toll at 42 said another 1,117 people had been injured in the latest quake that hit hardest in remote mountain districts northeast of the country’s capital Kathmandu.
The earthquake struck at 12:35 pm, some 83 km east of Kathmandu near Mount Everest at a shallow depth of 15 km, the US Geological Survey(USGS) 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 the last month’s temblor. At least 19 people were killed in Dolakha, police said.
A second tremor of 6.3-magnitude struck about 30 minutes after the 7.3-magnitude quake that sent terrifed residents running into the streets of the traumatised capital.
The USGS said there were five more aftershocks measuring over 5 on the Richter Scale after the second tremor that kept people on the edge.
Police said half-a-dozen buildings were destroyed in Kathmandu.
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 today’s quake.
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 were felt in Kathmandu where people ran out of their houses in panic and some even started crying. Authorities appealed to people to stay in open field.
The temblor triggered landslides and toppled buildings in Nepal that recently witnessed its worst quake in over 80 years and over 160 aftershocks.
At the main hospital in Kathmandu, patients hurt in last month’s quake were brought out in wheelchairs to avoid further injury.
Today’s quake had its impact in several cities in Bihar, West Bengal and UP and tremors were felt across vast stretches of east and northeast India, where the death toll has reached 17 so far.
The tremors were also felt in China, where one woman was killed in Tibet.
In Patna, two high-intensity quakes rattled Bihar today, claiming 15 lives and injuring 36 in the incident of wall and roof collapses just weeks after the April 25 temblor that left 58 people dead in the State.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told newsmen: “We have information regarding death of 15 persons in incidents relating earthquake today. There is confirmation of six deaths and for rest, the confirmation process is on.”
Later in the evening, special cell of State Disaster Management confirmed 12 deaths while verification for other deaths was on.
Meanwhile, officials in Delhi put the toll due to the fresh tremors in Bihar at 16.
As per confirmed reports, three persons died in Patna, 3 in East Champaran, 2 each in Purnea and Darbhanga and one each in Sitamarhi and Siwan.
One person died of heart attack while running out of his shop during temblor in Biharisao lane.
A person died in an incident of wall collapse due to earthquake in Anand Bazar area, Danapur police station officer in-charge said.
The Chief Minister held a meeting with officials shortly after the seven tremors, the first two measuring 7.3 and 6.2 on Richter Scale and the rest of moderate magnitude, rocked Bihar during the day.
On the instructions of the Chief Minister, the district administration has made necessary arrangements in Gandhi Maidan for panic stricken people staying out in the open apprehending more tremors.
The Chief Minister also visited Gandhi Maidan and other parks and allayed fear among people.
He also ordered closure of all schools in Bihar for summer vacation from tomorrow itself.
“Summer vacation is scheduled to start in schools in the next 2-3 days. So I have ordered to advance it and declared holidays from tomorrow itself in the view of fear due to quake and possibility of more aftershocks,” he said.
Frightened by chance of aftershocks, people have rushed to parks and other open spaces in other parts of Bihar too, to spend the night with families there.
Families resting in parks could be seen in Darbhanga, Motihari, Purnea and other parts of the state.
The leaves of doctors have been cancelled and Health Department has issued alert in major hospitals in Patna and other parts of the state.
Kumar ordered field officers to visit every village to assess the details of casualty due to successive tremors today and provide assistance to people immediately.
He said Bihar was sensitive from the earthquake point of view as major parts of it fall in seismic zone 4 and 5.
“An environment of fear is gripping people after today’s powerful aftershocks,” he said.
The Chief Minister urged people, particularly those living in high-rises, to carefully examine whether any crack had appeared after the earthquake and inform administration so that engineers could assess the damage and do the needful.
Meanwhile, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) based at Bihta in Patna district has been alerted after today’s powerful aftershocks.
“Eight teams of NDRF each comprising about 45 personnel, are in alert mode and can rush to places as per instruction,” Vijay Sinha, commandant of 9th NDRF battalion, Bihta said.
According to State Meteorological department, the first temblor measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale was felt across the State at 12.35 PM.
A second quake was experienced at 1.09 pm which measured 6.2 on the Richter scale, the MeT office said, adding, five more temblors of moderate intensity were recorded in the State after this.
The State Government, the CM said, would advertise do’s and don’ts in case of earthquake in newspapers for the benefit of the people.
Kumar, who was at his 7 Circular Road residence here, rushed out of the building to the lawn, sources in the CM’s residence said.
Sources in Raj Bhawan said Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who was in his chamber, too came out of the building after the temblor.
Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi left a press conference midway and rushed out of his Polo Road residence with the scribes.
East Central Railway (ECR) zone has instructed a speed restriction of 30 km per hour for trains in its five divisions in view of repeat of the powerful earthquake today.
The speed limit has been set as caution, Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) Arvind Kumar Rajak said.
Officials have been told to check bridges and tracks for safe running of trains, he said.
ECR comprises Danapur, Sonepur, Dhanbad, Mughalsarai and Samastipur divisions.
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