A high-intensity earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale with the epicentre in Nepal sent strong tremors through several eastern and northern parts of India on Tuesday.
At least 66 people have been killed, including 17 in India. Bihar once again bore the brunt of the temblor that occurred less than three weeks after the monster quake that devastated Nepal, with 38 of the 39 injuries reported from the state.
Union Home Ministry sources said Bihar’s capital Patna accounted for the largest number of deaths where four people were killed, followed by Darbhanga and Saran (two each), besides Siwan, Nawada, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhepura, Motihari and Purnia recording one death each.
Another death was reported from Uttar Pradesh. The April 25 earthquake had left 58 dead in Bihar, the largest in the country.
Tuesday’s earthquake struck at 12:35 PM some 70 kilometres east of capital city Kathmandu at a depth of 18.5 kilometres, followed by three aftershocks of 6.2, 5.4 and 4.8, Indian Meteorological Department said. America has launched a massive search operation to locate the relief chopper.
U.S Relief Chopper Goes Missing
A U.S Marine Corps Chopper carrying 8 people delivering aid to the earthquake hit victims of Nepal has been missing since Tuesday. The helicopter stopped responding near Charikot, one of the villages hardest hit by a 7.3-magnitude quake. Massive search operations have been launched by U.S and Nepali authorities to track down the missing helicopter.
We are working on tracking them down now. The helicopter was delivering humanitarian aid and there was no indication that there were any civilians on board.
- Cassandra Geseeki, Marines Media Officer
Deadly Quake revives April 25 fears
Tuesday’s deadly quake triggered three major landslides in Nepal reviving fears of further destruction among the residents. With seasonal monsoons imminent, experts dread another round of large scale devastation. At the moment, the Nepal Government is evaluating whether to move people out of high risk areas.
There are some areas where it is very difficult to stay on a long-term basis, so we are looking at resettlement.
- Iman Gurung, Home Ministry Advisor
(With Inputs from PTI & Reuters)
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