Kathmandu, Oct 3: Nepal experienced a series of four earthquakes within the span of just one hour on Tuesday, with tremors reaching parts of North India, including Delhi-NCR. The two major quakes, measuring 6.3 and 5.3 on the Richter scale, originated in Nepal’s Bajhang district at approximately 2:30 pm local time, triggering a landslide near the epicenter. Subsequently, two additional earthquakes of slightly lower magnitude occurred at 3:06 pm and 3:19 pm.
Online visuals captured the unsettling moment as furniture swayed, and concerned residents rushed out of their homes and workplaces.
The epicenters of these quakes were located in western Nepal’s Bajhang district, causing tremors to ripple through various parts of North India. The most powerful earthquake’s epicenter was situated 206 km southeast of the pilgrimage town of Joshimath in Uttarakhand and 284 km north of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.
Reports indicate that the quakes disrupted a major highway in Nepal, affecting an important route to the southern plains, as confirmed by Rama Acharya, an official from the interior ministry.
The seismic activity resulted in injuries and damage. One individual was injured by a falling object, and some houses collapsed in Chainpur town. Additionally, a student sustained injuries in Achham district, reportedly after jumping from a two-story building out of panic. At least five people were admitted to District Hospital Bajhang following the earthquakes.
Local authorities reported damage to the Bajhang district police office building and several houses displaying structural cracks.
While the tremors were strongly felt in neighboring India, there have been no immediate reports of significant damage. According to National Centre for Seismology scientist Sanjay Kumar Prajapati, “In the Delhi region, the magnitude was 3…We have received responses from people that it was felt in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi, Lucknow region, Jaipur region. A few people in Ahmedabad region are also telling us that they felt it there.”
