Earthquake in Sikkim: 20 dead, Manipal University building hit

Earthquake in Sikkim: 20 dead, Manipal University building hit

Mtoday news / PTI

New Delhi, Sept 18:  At least 20 people have been killed - in India and Nepal - after an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale shook Sikkim this evening. Strong tremors were also felt in parts of North and East India and parts of Bangladesh and Nepal, causing widespread panic. The epicentre of the quake is said to be just 64 kilometres North-West of Gangtok.

Many buildings in Sikkim developed cracks, including the Sikkim Manipal University building. The state was also hit by massive landslides and heavy rainfall.

 

 

 

 

 

Seven people were killed in Sikkim and 33 others received injuries there. In Bihar, a seven-year-old girl was among two dead. One more died in West Bengal. Of the nine killed in Nepal, three casualties were reported from Kathmandu itself.

Tremors were felt in Lucknow, Patna, Kolkata, New Delhi and the National Capital Region, which sent thousands of people running out of their homes.Three aftershocks, of magnitude 5.7, 5.1 and 4.6 were also felt in Sikkim, says the India Meteorological Department.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has launched search and rescue operations in the Pegong area of north Sikkim which has been "badly affected." The ITBP rescued 15 foreign tourists and 150 villagers in their operations They have been moved to battalion headquarters.

 

 

 

 

There is no electricity in Gangtok and Darjeeling. Telephone lines have also snapped in some parts of Sikkim; phone lines are congested in West Bengal.

Five Indian Air Force planes have also been pressed into action for relief operations. Small Army columns in Sikkim have also been mobilised post the earthquake.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has spoken to Sikkim’s Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and offered help. The Prime Minister has directed the Cabinet Secretary to call an emergency meeting of the Disaster Management Authority. The quake comes just days after an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude hit Haryana’s Sonepat district, sending tremors in New Delhi.