 "Earthquake in Nepal kills 132; rescue operations underway")
At least 132 people were killed and more than 100 were left injured after a strong earthquake struck Nepal late on Friday. Nepal’s National Seismological Centre said the quake was a magnitude 6.4 but the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) later downgraded the magnitude to 5.7 and the U.S. Geological Survey pegged it as a magnitude 5.6.
#WATCH | Nepal earthquake | Visuals from Jajarkot where the injured were brought to the hospital last night.
— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2023
Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ left for the earthquake-affected areas along with doctors and aid materials this morning. pic.twitter.com/KJes2IybPP
Jolts were also felt in parts of India including in the cities of New Delhi and Patna. Local officials had said that they were unable to establish contact with people in the area near the epicenter in Jajarkot, a hilly district with a population of 190,000 and villages scattered in remote hills. Meanwhile, the epicentre area, Ramidanda has not been reached by authorities yet. Videos and photos posted on social media showed locals digging through rubble in the dark to pull survivors from the wreckage of collapsed homes and buildings. Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed sorrow over the loss of lives because of the earthquake and ordered officials to launch search and rescue operations immediately. “I am out in the open myself. We are collecting details but due to cold and night it is difficult to get information from remote areas,” he told Reuters.
जाजरकोटको रामीडाँडा केन्द्रविन्दु भएर शुक्रबार राति ११ः४७ मा गएको भूकम्पबाट भएको मानवीय तथा भौतिक क्षतिप्रति सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहाल “प्रचण्ड”ले गहिरो दुख व्यक्त गर्दै घाइतेहरुको तत्काल उद्धार र राहतका लागि ३ वटै सुरक्षा निकायलाई परिचालित गर्नुभएको छ।
— PMO Nepal (@PM_nepal_) November 3, 2023
Local media footage showed crumbled facades of multi-storied brick houses, with large pieces of furniture scattered.
Tremors were felt in neighbouring districts and as far away as Kathmandu, residents said.
“Houses have collapsed. People rushed out of their homes. I am out in the crowd of terrified residents. We are trying to find details of damages,” police official Santosh Rokka told Reuters by phone.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMeanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the devastation caused by the earthquake in Nepal.
“Deeply saddened by loss of lives and damage due to the earthquake in Nepal. India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and we wish the injured a quick recovery,” he said on X.
Deeply saddened by loss of lives and damage due to the earthquake in Nepal. India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and we wish the injured a quick recovery. @cmprachanda
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 4, 2023
With inputs from agencies
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