Bihar: 15 dead as two high-intensity quakes hit north India

Patna: Two high-intensity quakes rattled Bihar on Tuesday, claiming 15 lives and injuring 36 in the incident of wall and roof collapses just weeks after the 25 April temblor that left 58 people dead in the state. [caption id=“attachment_2240880” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Members mourn a death in the family due to a wall collapse following an earthquake in Danapur area of Patna. PTI[/caption] 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, a 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. PTI