Tremors felt in parts of West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand in powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake
Kolkata/ Ranchi/Guwahati: Parts of West Bengal were on Tuesday rocked by an earthquake, which had its epicentre in Nepal, causing panic among the people. Tremors were also felt in several places in Jharkhand and Assam.
The quake with epicentre in Nepal was on latitude 27.6 degree north and 86.6 degree east at a depth of 18 km, according to the the Central Seismological Observatory in Shillong.
"Earthquake which had its epicentre in Nepal region, was felt here in the city and other parts of the Eastern region. The quake measured 7.1- 7.2 on Richter scale. We are still waiting for more details," D K Das , a senior official of Kolkata Metrological department said.
Hundreds of people ran out of their homes, offices, metro stations and high rise buildings, and assembled on the streets. The tremors were felt in various parts of the city especially in Lake Town, Salt Lake, Dalhouise and Park street area.
Tremors were felt in Ranchi, Dumka, Giridih and in other places in Jharkhand around 12.35 pm for a few seconds, an official said. There was no report of any damage to life or property. Two persons got killed in Bihar on Tuesday in separate incidents.
The quake lasting nearly a minute caused panic among the people who rushed out of their houses and offices to the open spaces outside.
The April 25 Earthquake had claimed over 8000 lives in Nepal. Several people were also killed in India following the quake.
Bihar
Two persons were killed in separate wall collapse incidents after two high intensity quakes shook Bihar. One person died due to wall collapse following the temblor in Danapur area of Patna district, Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana told PTI.
State Disaster Management control room said they have received report of death of another person in Siwan district due to wall collapse after the quake.
According to state Meteorological department, the first temblor measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale was felt in Patna and other parts of the state at 12:35 PM.
Even before the people could recover from the shock, a second quake was experienced at 1:09 PM measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale, the Met office said.
Around 12 school students were injured in Zila public school under Vishvidyalaya police station in the melee to run to safety from class rooms after the quakes, a report from Darbhanga quoting school authority and parents said.
The earthquake triggered panic in many areas. In the capital city Patna, citizens were seen running out from buildings into open spaces.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was at his 7 Circular Road residence rushed out of the building into the lawn, sources in the CM residence said.
Sources in Raj Bhawan said Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who was in his chamber came out of the building, due to the temblor.
People who had assembled for a book release programme at the Raj Bhawan also ran out to the lawn.
Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi left a press conference midway and rushed out of his Polo Road residence alongwith the journalists.
A Darbhanga report said leader of opposition in the Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav, who was also addressing mediapersons on circuit house, ran towards a lawn after the temblor.
District Magistrate In-charge of East Champaran Bharat Dubey told PTI over phone that he and and other officers had to ran out of the Collectorate office following the quake. He said details of damage was being collected.
