Quake claims 38 lives in Bihar; buildings crack

Thirty-eight people were reported killed in Bihar in the high-intensity earthquake with the epicentre in Nepal, just days after a severe cyclonic storm claimed 56 lives. 

The quake, measuring 7.9 on Richter scale, was felt on more than six occasions in different parts of Bihar, particularly those districts which share border with Nepal.

Districts of north Bihar bore the brunt of the quake as the epicentre of the tremours were at the north-western part of Kathmandu, capital of the Himalayan nation. 

Of the 38 people killed, six casualties were reported from Sitamarhi, while five each in Motihari and Sheohar.

Sources, however, put the death toll at 38 and said the figures could go up as reports from far-flung areas were yet to reach the state capital.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was in New Delhi to attend a meeting of the proposed Janata Pariwar outfit, cancelled his programme and rushed to Patna where he held an emergency meeting with senior officials.

“Altogether, 38 people have so far died in the earthquake. Due to connectivity problem, reports from far-off areas are yet to reach us. But I have asked all the administrative and police officials to remain on alert for the next 24 hours as there was no let up in nature’s wrath,” sources said referring to the cyclonic storm that preceded the quake earlier this week. 

The Bihar government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. 

The first quake was felt at 11.41 am on Saturday following which people in droves rushed out of their houses/apartments. 

People were also seen roaming the streets and biding time at parks after experts said there are strong chances of aftershocks in 24 hours. Many of them were seen trying to connect with their near and dear ones. 

“My daughter, who is wedded to a Kathmandu-based engineer, rang me at around 4 pm to inform me that she was sitting in an open space in Kathmandu along with her family members,” said Birendra Jaiswal of Vaishali, while talking to Deccan Herald over phone.

“She said though heavy casualty was reported in Kathmandu and Pokhara, she was safe but could not inform us earlier due to connectivity issues,” Jaiswal said.

Several buildings in Patna developed cracks, including a newly built shopping complex, while reports of cracked up buildings have been pouring in from other parts of the state. In Muzaffarpur, the IG’s official residence is among the buildings that developed cracks. 

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has, meanwhile, predicted heavy to moderate rainfall in several parts of Bihar in the next 24 hours, which will only add to the miseries.