Nepal earthquake: Death toll rises to 5,000

Several people are still trapped under buildings even as hopes of finding survivors of the 7.9 quake fade

GN Bureau | April 27, 2015


#nepal earthquake   #nepal earthquake prediction   #earthquake   #earthquake prediction   #earthquake aftershocks   #aftershocks   #epicentre earthquake nepal   #kathmandu   #earthquake death toll  


The Nepal earthquake death toll reached over 5,000 and more than 10,000 reported injured as relief and rescue operations continued in full swing. 

READ: What happened in Nepal

It is feared that the toll may rise further, as several people were still trapped under the rubble of buildings, houses and shopping complexes that were demolished by the quake on April 25 and its aftershocks.

Soon after the quake, prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Nepal's pain is our pain... Today's earthquake has made us all very sad. Reports are still coming on the extent of the damage." Modi also spoke to his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on the phone and assured them of all assistance.

On Monday, Koirala appealed to people to come forward to donate blood, as hospitals badly needed it to treat the injured.

According a UN report, around 40 percent of the country and 6.6 million people were affected by the earthquake and aftershocks that hit the country around Saturday noon. The earthquake also caused an avalanche in the Himalayas and as many as 17 bodies have been recovered from the Mount Everest base camp with 60 people being injured.

More than 60 earthquake-related deaths were reported from parts of India (mainly Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) and about 20 from Tibet. Authorities in these states as well as West Bengal, Delhi and Sikkim are trying to assess the damage even though the intensity of the quake was much less in these two countries.

The Indian government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives in the earthquake. Meanwhile, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has also announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of those who died in the quake. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has offered Rs 2 lakh as compensation to those who died.

Over 2,000 Indians trapped in the tragedy were rescued from Nepal capital Kathmandu and other parts. The ministry of external affairs has, meanwhile, come up with a 24-hour control room for queries regarding the earthquake and survivors.

Numbers:

+91 11 2301 2113

+91 11 2301 4104

+91 11 2301 7905

 
Amidst the continuing aftershocks, people in Nepal and border areas of Bihar spent Saturday and Sunday nights under makeshift tents. Rescue operation was hindered by landslides on mountain roads to remote villages near the epicenter in Pokhara.

The US geological survey has predicted more aftershocks in the coming months. According to its website, 3-14 aftershocks of more than 5 magnitude on the Richter scale are expected in the coming days. It says that there is a 54% chance of a magnitude 6 or greater aftershock. It further added that in the following month and then the following year, USGS expects several magnitude 5 and greater aftershocks, with a significant chance of magnitude 6 and greater aftershock (greater than 50 per cent).

Read more about aftershocks here

People and truckloads of relief material made their way to Nepal from India as almost all Indian telecom operators announced concessional rates for calls to Nepal.

 

Comments

 

Other News

The health sector research we are not doing

Some neglect is loud. This kind is quiet. It sits in research never commissioned, data never collected, questions never asked. In South Asia, that quiet has let the region’s worst health problems stay understudied, underfunded, and out of sight of those who could act.  

Study flags accessibility and last-mile challenges on Mumbai Metro Aqua Line

Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line), the city`s first fully underground metro corridor and one of its largest public transport investments, represents a major engineering achievement and has been widely welcomed by commuters. However, the overall commuter experience continues to be constrained by accessibili

Centre intensifies preparedness as El Niño threat looms

Amid uncertainty in the southwest monsoon due to the potential impact of El Niño, the government is addressing the situation with comprehensive preparedness, a clear strategy, and strong ground-level action. While challenges remain, the entire system has been activated in advance and is working proa

India is crossing a climate threshold

On June 28, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 41.3°C, four degrees above the seasonal normal. But the “feels like” temperature, which factors in humidity, showed more than 51°C. What the body experienced was very different from what the thermometer recorded.  India`

The Geography of India’s inflation

India today finds itself in an unusual position. At a time when geopolitical conflicts, trade fragmentation, and supply-chain disruptions are reshaping the global economy, the country`s macroeconomic fundamentals remain relatively upwards. Growth remains among the highest in the world, inflation has larg

How to listen to the great storytellers that the trees are

The Trees of My Country: A Natural History of India in 50 Trees By T. R. Shankar Raman, with illustrations by Manali Patil Aleph Book Company, 284 pages, Rs 1,499  





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter