December 12, 2024 00:34 (IST)
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Nepal earthquake: Death toll reaches 1900
Kathmandu/New Delhi, Apr 26 (IBNS): The death toll in Nepal has reached 1900 after the country was hit by a massive earthquake on Saturday, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, with several buildings, temples and towers being crashed in the Himalayan nation, reports said on Sunday.
About 65 mountaineers are believed to have died at the Everest base camp. Helicopters have landed at the Everest to evacuate badly injured mountaineers.
However, rescue operations have been hampered due to bad weather on Sunday.
About 546 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Nepal so far, reports said.
At least 58 people were reportedly killed in India, where the tremor was also felt from the north to east.
Indian Railways dispatched some 100,000 bottles of 'Rail Neer' to quake-hit Nepal on Saturday night.
Five MI-17 Helicopters of IAF departed from Gorakhpur for Kathmandu to provide relief operation at 5 AM on Sunday
Strong aftershocks were felt on Sunday morning too, after the earthquake hit a heavily populated area of Nepal, including the capital, Kathmandu.
The earthquake had rocked the nation at around 11.41 a.m IST (Indian Standard Time) on Saturday at a depth of 10 km with its epicentral region located in Nepal about 80 Km NW of Kathmandu.
The quake, said to be strongest in Nepal in 80 years.
The epicentre of the earthquake was 80 km (50 miles) east of Pokhara in Nepal, United States Geological Survey (USGS) had said.
The quake pulled down buildings, temples and towers, felled trees and electric posts and left yawning cracks on roads across Nepal, specially in Kathmandu, the capital.
The historic Dharara Tower built in the 19th century in Kathmandu was also collapsed, Nepal media reported.
Efforts are on to recover more bodies from under heaps of rubble as rescue operation continue on Sunday. Bad weather hampers rescue operations at Everest
The tremors were felt in India too with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal being majorly affected.
"Effects of this earthquake were severely felt in all northern and central parts of India including in the capital city of New Dellhi," a statement issued by the Indian government had read.
"A report by the Seismic Division of the Indian Meteorological Department says major damage is expected in and around the epicentral region. The source region is expected to experience an intensity of IX and above at Modified Mercalli scale(MMI) , which corresponds to considerable damage even in specially designed structures," it had said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Nepal counterpart Sushil Koirala over the massive earthquake that hit the Himalayan nation on Saturday.
"Spoke to PM Sushil Koirala, who is in transit in Bangkok on his way to Kathmandu. Assured all support & assistance during this tough time," Modi had tweeted.
He had also called chief ministers of several states to know about the situation following the major earthquake.
Modi convened a high level meeting with Ministers and top officials on Saturday to work out agenda to reach out to the people in the affected areas.
The Prime Minister had directed immediate dispatch of relief and rescue teams, including medical teams to Nepal, as well as to affected areas in India. He also directed that proper arrangements be made for rendering assistance in evacuation of stranded tourists.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said it has been in constant touch with all the affected states to assess the situation.
Control Rooms 24X7 have been set up both in MHA and NDMA with following number:-011- 2309 3564, 23093566 (MHA Control Room ), 011-26701728, 26701729, 9868881801(M) – (NDMA Control Room) Meanwhile , an inter Governmental coordination cell has been set up in Cabinet Secretariat which will coordinate all relief measures for Nepal as well as for Indian States.
This will function on round-the-clock basis and the phone numbers are :- 011- 2301 6633, 2379 2281.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) had called the earthquake as 'great'.
From Rajasthan to Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Northeast, people everywhere in northern to eastern India had felt the tremors for nearly a minute.
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