Nepal experienced two powerful earthquakes in rapid succession on Tuesday, leaving 11 people injured, damaging homes, and unleashing a landslide that blocked a major highway. The twin quakes, measuring 6.3 and 5.3 in magnitude, struck in the Bajhang district of western Nepal, adjacent to India. The second tremor triggered a landslide, obstructing the road leading to the southern plains, according to an official statement by Rama Acharya from Nepal’s Ministry of Interior.
These seismic events, centered in Talkot and Chainpur, occurred within a 30-minute interval, compounding the impact of the disaster. Police official Bharat Bahadur Shah reported that among the 11 injured, seven were women and four were men, all receiving medical treatment. Additionally, one woman remained unaccounted for after another landslip, induced by the quake, struck.
Earthquake of Magnitude:6.2, Occurred on 03-10-2023, 14:51:04 IST, Lat: 29.39 & Long: 81.23, Depth: 5 Km ,Location:Nepal for more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/rBpZF2ctJG @ndmaindia @KirenRijiju @Indiametdept @Dr_Mishra1966 @Ravi_MoES pic.twitter.com/tOduckF0B9
— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) October 3, 2023
Narayan Pandey, the top district official, disclosed that some homes in Chainpur, a town in the affected district, collapsed under the force of the tremors.
The seismic shocks were not confined to Nepal alone; their effects reverberated as far as the Indian capital, New Delhi, where residents hastily vacated homes and office buildings. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of significant damage in the Indian capital.
The Hindustan Times reported that the earthquake persisted for over 40 seconds, inducing panic among residents who rushed out of their homes. Further afield, tremors were felt in various regions, including Uttar Pradesh’s cities of Lucknow, Hapur, and Amroha, as well as parts of Uttarakhand.
Hey Delhi people!
We hope you all are safe. Please come out of your buildings to a safe spot, but do not panic.
DO NOT USE ELEVATORS!
For any emergency help, dial 112.#earthquake
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) October 3, 2023
In response to the seismic activity, the Delhi police issued a statement advising citizens against using elevators and urging them to evacuate buildings as a precautionary measure.
It is worth noting that just a day prior, a Dutch research organization, the Solar System Geometry Survey (SSGS) of the Netherlands, had made a prediction about a potent earthquake along the Chaman fault line in Balochistan, Pakistan. However, these predictions have faced skepticism and have been refuted by scientists, seismologists, and geologists, who emphasize the complexities and challenges associated with earthquake forecasting.