Fresh Quake Claims 65 lives in Nepal , 44 In India
13 May, New Delhi
The major earthquake measuring 7.3 on the scale that struck Nepal Tuesday left toll of 65 lives and over 1200 injured . The tremors also caused more damage to building already affected by last month’s quake.
According to Nepal National Seismological Centre the earthquake took place at 12:50 pm with epicenter on the border between Dolakha and Sindhupal chowk district northeast of Kathmandu.
The quake had its impact in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal as tremors were felt across vast stretches of east and northeast India, where the death toll has reached 44 so far.
In Bihar, the death toll from yesterday’s quake has mounted to 42. Over 100 people have been injured in quake- related to incidents in the State. AIR correspondent reports, 16 people died following heart attack.
However, the State Disaster Management Department confirmed 13 deaths. Most of the causalities have been reported from the districts bordering Nepal.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has instructed to intensify the relief and rescue operations in affected areas of the state. 11 people were also killed in hail and thunderstorms in Kosi and Seemanchal areas of the State Tuesday .
In Uttar Pradesh, two people were killed and over half a dozen others injured in the earthquake which rocked many parts of the state on Tuesday.
An official said A labourer was killed when an under-construction building in Hamirpur collapsed while several others were trapped in the rubble. A girl was killed in Sambhal when her mud-and-thatch house caved in. Two children were injured when a wall of their house collapsed in Ambedkar Nagar, officials said.
Cracks also appeared in the residence of the vice chancellor of the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia University in Faizabad, forcing the official to work in the open. A fire broke out in a house in Varanasi due to an electrical short-circuit during the quake. Cracks appeared in many houses in Agra, Etawah, Varanasi, Barabanki and Kanpur also. Independent sources have, however, claimed four deaths due to tremor related incidents in the State.
The tremors were also felt in China, where one woman was killed in Tibet. The National Crisis Management Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth met in New Delhi last evening and took stock of the situation arising out of the earthquake .
During the meeting, the Chief Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim and West Bengal were also consulted through video conferencing. In a statement, Home Ministry said that the State Governments have not sought any assistance so far. However, the Centre is in constant touch with them and has assured all possible help.
Earlier, Home Secretary L C Goyal also reviewed the situation and decided to give gratis visa-on-arrival to foreigners coming from Nepal both at the airports and at the land points. The National Disaster Management Authority has set up a round-the-clock control room to assist people. The phone number is 011-1078. External Affairs Ministry has also set up control rooms both in India and Nepal to provide information to the earthquake affected people. In India, people can contact on phone numbers -011 – 23012113, 23014104, 23017905 and can also e-mail at controlroom@mea.gov.in. In Nepal, control room numbers are – 9771 – 2081141, 2081148 and e-mail id is : eoiktm1@gmail.com.
The Ministry’s spokesperson said the Indian embassy in Kathmandu and all staff members are reported to be safe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed all concerned authorities to be on alert for carrying out rescue and relief operations if required in view of the earthquake. Modi held a high-level meeting in New Delhi and took stock of the situation.