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Business News/ News / World/  At least 41 killed, 1,100 injured as another earthquake strikes Nepal
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At least 41 killed, 1,100 injured as another earthquake strikes Nepal

7.3-magnitude earthquake, second devastating tremor in less than three weeks, also claims 17 lives in India

A file photo of an earthquake monitor. Photo: APPremium
A file photo of an earthquake monitor. Photo: AP

At least 41 people died and around 1,100 were injured in Nepal after an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck the country on Tuesday afternoon. In India, the earthquake claimed 17 lives.

It was the second devastating tremor in less than three weeks after an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck Nepal on 25 April, claiming the lives of over 8,000 people and leaving 16,000 injured across the Himalayan nation.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the earthquake struck Nepal at 12.35pm (India time). The epicentre was 76km east-northeast of Kathmandu, and it was at a depth of 10km. IMD first measured the earthquake at 7.1, but later upgraded it to 7.3.

It was followed by 15 aftershocks in the next six hours ranging between magnitudes of 3.6 and 6.2 on the Richter scale.

Tremors also shook several cities across north and east India, including Delhi, resulting in several deaths.

Soon after the earthquake, Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation and ordered the official machinery to be on alert to carry out rescue and relief operations.

“Till evening, the death toll in India due to earthquake is 17 (16 in Bihar and one in Uttar Pradesh)," said a senior home ministry official. “Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and Indian Air Force (IAF) have been kept on standby for the relief work".

According to India’s ministry of earth sciences, the earthquake on Tuesday afternoon was not a new one, but an aftershock of the earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 April.

“It is not a separate event. As it was a big earthquake, aftershocks will also continue," said Shailesh Nayak, secretary in the ministry.

In the National Capital Region centred on Delhi, services of Delhi Metro were stalled for some time after the earthquake. Many buildings in the national capital and in satellite cities like Gurgaon and Noida were evacuated.

The last earthquake of magnitude 7.9 on the Richter scale that struck Nepal on 25 April led to the complete destruction of several historical buildings and temples across the Himalayan nation. Relief and rehabilitation work is still on in Nepal.

“India is ready for whatever help is needed by Nepal," home minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday.

Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth also chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee to review the situation.

“The chief secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim and West Bengal were also consulted through video conferencing. The state governments have not indicated any (need for) assistance so far. However, the government of India is in constant touch with state governments and has assured them all possible help. All the concerned authorities in the government are keeping a close watch on the situation," said an official statement of the home ministry.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army’s Operation Maitri continues to provide relief to the affected population in the Himalayan nation in coordination with the Nepal Army.

According to an official statement, Indian Army and IAF helicopters combined have moved over 56.69 tonnes of relief supplies in the last three days alone. India’s defence forces are also involved in clearance of collapsed buildings.

Reuters contributed to this story.

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Published: 12 May 2015, 01:15 PM IST
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