50 dead as quake hits Nepal again

A fresh 7.3-magnitude earthquake and several powerful aftershocks jolted Nepal today killing at least 42 people and hurting 1,117 others. It drove panic in the Himalayan nation already reeling under the devastation caused by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that claimed more than 8,000 lives on April 25.

Nepal’s Home Ministry said the latest quake was centered in remote mountain districts northeast of the country’s capital Kathmandu. The quake hit at 12.35pm, 83 km east of Kathmandu near Mount Everest at a shallow depth of 15 km, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The agency had earlier measured the shock at 7.4 on the Richter scale but later corrected the intensity to 7.3.

In Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk districts — the worst-affected areas in the last month’s temblor — at least 19 people were died, the police said. A second shock of 6.3-magnitude hit about 30 minutes after the 7.3-magnitude earthquake. The USGS said there were 6 more aftershocks measuring over 5 on the Richter scale after the second tremor that kept people on the edge.

The police told around 6 buildings were destroyed in Kathmandu.

The fresh quake triggered massive panic among people, who have been residing in the open since the 7.9-magnitude quake struck on April 25.

“All accessible helicopters along with a medical team and an SSR team are going to be mobilised to Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk soon,” said Nepal’s National Emergency Operation Centre.