A huge earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale hit Nepal today at about 12.35 pm, US Geological Survey said; tremors were felt across major swathes of North India, including Delhi, at about 12.40 pm today. News agency Associated Press reports that today’s quake was epicentred between Mount Everest and the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, which was devastated on April 25 by a temblor that weighed in at 7.9.
8,000 people had been killed and more than 17,000 injured in Nepal in the earthquake. 50 people had died in Bihar.
People rushed out of their homes and offices in cities like Patna in Bihar and Gurgaon near Delhi. “News of an earthquake hitting Nepal again has come. Several parts of India also felt the tremors. MHA is collecting more details and info,” tweeted Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Like April’s earthquake, today’s was shallow – 10 km deep. Shallow quakes are more deadly because the amount of energy released is focused over a smaller area.
People in Kathmandu rushed outdoors, Reuters reporters said. There were no immediate reports of damage to buildings. Shopkeepers closed their shops.
Reuters also reported that the quake’s epicentre was close to Everest Base Camp, which was evacuated after an avalanche triggered by the April 25 quake killed 18 climbers. Mountaineers seeking to scale the world’s tallest peak have called off this year’s Everest season.
Prasanta Patnaik