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New Delhi: In a tragic turn of events, a massive earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale has wreaked havoc in north-western Nepal and killed at least 128 people. Earthquake tremors were also felt in many districts of North India including Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. This incident has created a situation of panic and people have come out of their homes fearing for their lives.
The death count fearing to increase, officials said on early Saturday while noting that communications were cut off with several places. Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal visited affected areas by helicopter and took stock of the situation. Three helicopters have been made ready to fly to the earthquake affected areas carrying medical teams and medicines. These helicopters will be sent from Kathmandu as soon as the weather opens, the officials said. Jajarkot Deputy Mayor Sarita Singh died in earthquake.
PM Modi expresses grief over loss of lives
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake in Nepal and said that India is ready to extend assistance to Nepal in the hour of crisis.
“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,” the Prime Minister posted on X, formerly Twitter.
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
Strong tremors were also felt in New Delhi and the National Capital Region and several other places in India at around the same time when several people were asleep in their homes but there is no reports of casualties. Tremors were also felt in other districts in north India including Prayagraj, Faridabad, Gurugram, Baghpat, Varanasi, Sultanpur, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur, and Mirzapur.
Rescue operations underway
According to the official, security personnel were engaged in the rescue operation along with the villagers in the darkness to pull the dead and injured from the debris.
However, he added that reaching some spots was difficult because some of the trails were blocked by landslides triggered by the tremor and its aftershocks.
Earthquakes are common in mountainous Nepal. In 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake claimed nearly 9,000 lives and damaged about 1 million structures.
The disaster underlines Nepal’s sensitivity to seismic activity, coming on the heels of another magnitude 6.4 earthquake that hit the country just weeks earlier. As the nation grapples with this disaster and recovery process, this incident is a sobering reminder of the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness and management.
