6.1 magnitude earthquake jolts Kathmandu Valley

 

Nepal: A 6.1 magnitude earthquake jolted Kathmandu Valley and adjoining districts on Sunday morning.

                                                      photo: kathmandu

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the earthquake with epicentre in Dhading district was recorded at 7:39 am.

The jolt was also felt in other districts of Bagmati and Gandaki provinces.

There are no reports of damage or casualty.

Earthquakes are common in Nepal which is situated on the ridge where the Tibetan and Indian tectonic plates meet and advance two meters closer to one another every century which results in pressure which is released in the form of earthquakes. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks killed around 9,000 people in 2015.

As the government’s post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) report noted, Nepal is the 11th most earthquake-prone country in the world.

Twenty houses were damaged and 75 more have developed cracks at Kumaltari, Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality of Dhading due to the earthquake that occurred on Sunday morning.

Former ward chair Krishna Prasad Kapri said more information on the damage caused by the tremor is expected.

A local Rajesh Adhikari said the people ran out of their homes as aftershocks measuring more than 4 on the Richter scale were felt frequently.

Information Officer at the District Police Office, Deputy Superintendent of Police Santulal Prasad Jaiswar said the collection of details of the houses which have developed cracks is in progress.

An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale and with its epicentre at Khari had jolted Dhading and surrounding districts this morning.