Fresh tremor measuring 6.9 rocks India within 24 hours of Nepal earthquake
KATHMANDU/NEW DELHI: Fresh tremors were felt today across north and east India, a day after a quake devastated Nepal and affected parts of India. The aftershocks measured 6.7 in the Richter scale according to United States Geological Survey — the epicenter was Kodari, around 80 km east of Kathmandu.
Apart from Delhi, tremors were also felt in Lucknow. And in Bihar, where 35 people died in yesterday’s quake, the tremors went on for several minutes.In Delhi, metro services were stopped for a few minutes after the tremors were felt.
Yesterday’s earthquake, which measured 7.9 on Richter scale, killed more than 1900 people in Nepal and 53 in India and led to widespread devastation.
Thousands of people were displaced in Nepal, roads developed huge cracks, old buildings were flattened. The aftershocks remained mild, but panic-stricken people spent the night under the open sky.
Saturday’s earthquake, the worst to hit the Himalayan country in 80 years, also triggered a deadly avalanche that buried a part of the base camp for climbers bound for Mount Everest. Seventeen bodies have been recovered so far; 61 people have been injured.
Fresh tremor were experienced in several parts of India including Sikkim, West Bengal, Patna, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi-NCR for over 30 seconds at 12:42 pm. Strong tremors have been experienced in Kathmandu as well.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar whose boundary is adjoining Nepal. He has asked the two state governments to rush their ambulances and buses to Nepal to aid rescue operation.
NDRF Chief OP Singh today rushed to Nepal in order to coordinate operations of the Indian rescue forces and local authorities in the quake-hit country. They have been deployed in areas of Lalitpur, Bhagatpur and valley division which is about 10 kms from the national capital reported.
PM Modi said that two more NDRF teams will be sent to Nepal to assist in the rescue operations. Seven teams are already present in the quake-hit nation.
Helicopters airlifted injured climbers off Mount Everest Sunday after an avalanche killed at least 17 people, an AFP team at the scene reported.In his popular radio address ‘Mann ki Baat’, PM Narendra Modi expresses solidarity with Nepal and said that India is with them at the time of this crisis. Modi said that India will assist in relief and rescue operation in every way after the major earthquake caused devastation.
MEA has set up helpline numbers for affected people of various states. A separate Twitter handle @MEAcontrolroom and email: controlroom@mea.gov.in has also been created for affected people.with input from Agency.
