Earthquake news Highlight: Toll in Nepal quake rises to 157, rescue operations on

A 4.2-magnitude tremor was recorded in Nepal on Saturday, a day after the Himalayan nation's worst earthquake in eight years that killed 157 people in the country's remote mountainous region.

The aftershock was recorded in Jajarkot district at 3:40 PM on Saturday.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring Centre, the aftershock was of 4.2-magnitude and its epicenter was Ramidanda. This tremor was an aftershock of the earthquake that occurred on Friday night.

PTI

Nepal on Friday was jolted after an earthquake of 6.4 magnitude struck the Jajarkot district, about 500km west of Kathmandu. It was recorded at 11:47 p.m.

Friday's earthquake is the most devastating one in Nepal since the 2015 earthquake that killed around 9,000 people and injured more than 22,000 others.

Meanwhile, Home Ministry officials have said that so far 1,800 houses have been completely damaged in Jajarkot while 2,500 damaged in Rukum West.

So far, 157 people have been killed and around 200 have been injured in Jajarkot and Rukum.

Even as search and rescue operations continued in the mountainous Jajarkot district in western Nepal hit by a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Friday night, authorities shifted scores of injured persons to multiple hospitals in the foothills and some of them may be airlifted to India.

While rescuers were scrambling to rush aid, operations were hampered by the fact that many of the mountainous villages could only be reached by foot. Roads were also blocked by landslides triggered by the earthquake. Soldiers could be seen trying to clear the blocked roads.

The government is trying to get as much aid to the affected areas, Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said on Saturday. Tents, food and medicine were flown in as thousands became homeless overnight.

Rescue workers in Nepal began digging through the rubble of collapsed houses with their bare hands on Saturday, searching for survivors after the country's worst earthquake in eight years killed 157 people and shook buildings as far away as New Delhi.

• July 29, 1980: At least 200 die and thousands are injured after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hits Nepal-India border.

• Aug. 20, 1988: The Himalayan nation's capital is rocked by a 6.9 quake, killing at least 1,000 people and injuring thousands.

• April 25, 2015: A 7.8 magnitude earthquake kills some 9,000 people, the worst in Nepal’s history, and damages about 1 million structures. The previous deadliest earthquake that struck the region was in 1934 with over 8,000 fatalities.

• May 12, 2015: One among about two dozen aftershocks of the April 25 earthquake kills over 200 people and injures more than 2000.

• Nov. 10, 2022: At least 6 people are killed after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake rocks the mountains of west Nepal.

• Nov. 3, 2023: A 5.6 magnitude quake hits northwestern Nepal, killing at least 138 and injuring dozens.

Nepal experienced additional aftershocks, with a magnitude of 3.3, on Saturday afternoon.

The Nepal Police reported the details of the devastation caused by the earthquake passing through Rami Danda in Jajarkot. "Dated 2080.07.17 at 23:47 hours, details of the damage caused by the earthquake passing through Rami Danda in Jajarkot," posted Nepal Police on X.

According to Bharat Koirala, a senior seismologist at the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre in Nepal, the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface has resulted in the accumulation of significant energy over a long period. As Nepal is situated at the convergence of these two tectonic plates, it is located in a region with high seismic activity, leading to frequent earthquakes.

Koirala emphasises that Western Nepal faces the potential for more substantial earthquakes due to the absence of significant seismic activity in that region for over 520 years. The accumulation of energy resulting from tectonic movement in the area spanning from Gorkha in western Nepal to Dehradun in India has been building up. As a result, both minor and major earthquakes occur in these regions as a means of releasing this stored energy, which is a natural geological process.

(Inputs from PTI)

In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Anguished by the loss of precious lives due to the devastating earthquake in Nepal. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and sympathies are with the families of the victims and the injured."

"In this hour of crisis, Indians stand shoulder to shoulder with Nepal," the Congress president said, tagging Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

Earthquake news LIVE: Officials on Saturday said that there is a possibility of an increased death toll, given that the first responders reached the hilly area near the epicenter, situated about 500 km (300 miles) west of Kathmandu.

"The number of injured could be in the hundreds and the deaths could go up as well," Jajarkot district official Harish Chandra Sharma, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Despite the earthquake's relatively moderate magnitude, officials anticipate a high death toll and significant damage due to the poor quality of construction in the region, compounded by the fact that the quake struck while people were sleeping.

The rescue efforts are expected to progress slowly, as emergency teams must initially clear roads obstructed by landslides at various locations. Additionally, helicopters and small planes are prepared to contribute to these endeavors.

(With Reuters inputs)

Earthquake news LIVE: National Center for Seismology Director Dr OP Mishra tells ANI that the intensity of the earthquake in Nepal was very strong, but gradually reduced till it hit Delhi.

"Intensity is the degree of sitting, but magnitude 6.4 is the content of energy...Earthquake does not kill people it is the structure that kills people..." he adds.

According to PTI, Deputy Mayor Sarita Singh of Nepals'Nalgadh Municipality in Jajarkot is among those killed in the quake.

According to the Prime Minister’s secretariat, the number of people killed due to the earthquake in Nepal has now climbed to 140, reports PTI.

Earthquake news LIVE: Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his condolences on Saturday for the lives lost in the Nepal earthquake.

Taking to X, Kharge said, “Anguished by the loss of precious lives due to the devastating earthquake in Nepal. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and sympathies are with the families of the victims and the injured. In this hour of crisis, Indians stand shoulder to shoulder with Nepal.”

The death toll resulting from the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on Friday has reached 132, with 140 individuals sustaining injuries, according to Nepal Police.

Earthquake news LIVE: Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal reached the earthquake-affected Jajarkot on Saturday and engaged in conversations with the affected people. A picture shows Dahal inside a helicopter involved in rescue operations.

Earthquake news LIVE: The National Centre for Seismology has confirmed that the earthquake's epicenter was located in Nepal's Jajarkot district. situated around 227 km to the north of Ayodhya and 331 km to the west-northwest of Kathmandu. The seismic event resulted in the loss of at least 132 lives.

Earthquake news LIVE: On Saturday morning, army personnel initiated rescue operations in the earthquake-affected areas of Nepal. In the picture, a woman is observed being carried on a stretcher for treatment in Nepalgunj.

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, arrived in the earthquake-affected regions to assess the situation and meet with those affected.

A strong earthquake has shaken northwestern Nepal, and officials say more than 100 people are dead and dozens more injured as rescuers search mountain villages.

Earthquake news LIVE: The death toll resulting from the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on Friday has risen to 132, with an additional 140 individuals sustaining injuries, news agency ANI reported citing Nepal Police.

After a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the northwest region of the country, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has travelled to Jajarkot to meet with those affected by the disaster.

Reports as of 3 am local time on Saturday highlight the significant damage sustained by Jajarkot and West Rukum, with Jajarkot alone accounting for 92 casualties, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Santosh Roka of Jajarkot district, as detailed in The Kathmandu Post.

Among the victims is Sarita Singh, the Deputy Mayor of Nalgad Municipality, Roka confirmed.

In light of the situation, officials have been instructed to ensure the availability of ambulances near the helipad at Nepalgunj Airport and military barracks at all times.

Earthquake news LIVE: Significant tremors were experienced in several districts of Bihar due to a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that originated in neighboring Nepal, PTI reported citing officials on Saturday.

There were no reports of casualties or property damage within the state. The tremors were felt across various districts along the India-Nepal border, including Patna, Katihar, East Champaran, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, West Champaran, Sasaram, Nawada, and more, as per the Bihar Disaster Management Department.

In response to the earthquake, the department issued helpline numbers (0612-2294204, 2294205, 7070290170) to address any queries or provide assistance.

Earthquake news LIVE: In the district of Jajarkot, which was the epicenter of the earthquake, authorities have confirmed the tragic loss of 92 lives, with an additional 55 people sustaining injuries, as stated by Kadayat.

In the neighboring Rukum district, the earthquake claimed the lives of at least 36 individuals, resulting in the collapse of numerous houses. Additionally, at least 85 injured individuals were transported to the local hospital, according to Kadayat.

To provide assistance to the injured, the regional hospital in Nepalgunj has made over 100 hospital beds available and has organized teams of doctors on standby.

(With inputs from Associated Press)

Earthquake news LIVE: In the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck northwestern Nepal districts just before midnight on Friday, leaving at least 128 people dead and dozens injured, both helicopters and ground troops were rapidly mobilized to provide assistance. Officials expressed concerns that the death toll was likely to increase, particularly due to severed communications with many areas.

As dawn broke, rescue helicopters were dispatched to the affected region, while security forces on the ground worked diligently to extract the injured and recover those trapped in the rubble, as reported by Nepal police spokesman Kuber Kadayat.

Troops were engaged in the challenging task of clearing roads and mountain trails obstructed by landslides triggered by the earthquake. Additionally, helicopters were utilized to transport medical personnel and essential medicines to the hospitals in the affected areas.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also arrived in the region via helicopter, accompanied by a team of doctors.

(With inputs from Associated Press)

Earthqauke news LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on Saturday over the deaths resulting from the strong earthquake that struck Nepal late on Friday. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Modi said, “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.”

Earthquake news LIVE: The strong quake that struck the northwestern region of Nepal on Friday night has resulted in the deaths of at least 128 people and injuries to several hundred. The earthquake occurred at precisely 11.47 pm, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, with the epicenter located in Jajarkot district's Lamidanda.