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7.5 earthquake hits Nepal, tremor felt in India

by IBNS 25 Apr 2015, 09:49 am

New Delhi, Apr 25 (IBNS) A massive earthquake hit Nepal's capital region of Kathmandu and India, where it was felt in Delhi, Kolkata, Patna and other parts of the nation, on Saturday. The epicentre of the quake is in Nepal, officials said.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) said it measured 7.5 on the scale.

The epicentre of the quake located 35 km east of Lamjung district in Nepal.

"Seismicity in the Himalaya dominantly results from the continental collision of the India and Eurasia plates, which are converging at a relative rate of 40-50 mm/yr. Northward underthrusting of India beneath Eurasia generates numerous earthquakes and consequently makes this area one of the most seismically hazardous regions on Earth. The surface expression of the plate boundary is marked by the foothills of the north-south trending Sulaiman Range in the west, the Indo-Burmese Arc in the east and the east-west trending Himalaya Front in the north of India," USGS website said.
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "News has come in about an Earthquake in Nepal. Several parts of India also experienced tremors.We are in the process of finding more information and are working to reach out to those affected, both at home & in Nepal."
 
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has called the earthquake as 'great'. From Rajasthan to Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Northeast felt the tremors for nearly a minute. 

The damage caused by the earthquake in Nepal is still not known but reports said several buildings were affected and people are in a state of panic.

No casualty figure was received yet.

Anita Saha, Associate Teaching Professor at Tribhuvan University in Nepal said, "We felt it in Nepalgunj. The tremors were quite strong.  I don't know about the damages caused in my city so far."

In Kolkata, buildings were shaking and many panic stricken people rushed outside.

Similar scenes were scene in Delhi and Patna and other parts of India.