News
Nepal earthquake: Close to 500 feared dead, death toll in India reaches 11
Latest reports suggest that as many as 500 people are reported to be killed in a major earthquake that rocked Nepal this morning.
Deputy Chief of Mission of Nepal High Commission in New Delhi, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, told the media that according to local reports reaching here, at least 500 people have been killed across Nepal.
"We are trying to ascertain the exact number (of casualties)," he said.
He also said that Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who had gone to Thailand on an official visit, is cutting short his sojourn and is exprected to return immediately.
The shallow earthquake that struck 80 km east of Pokhara with a magnitude of 7.9 was the worst to hit Nepal in the last 80 years has caused heavy damage to infrastructure, apart from casualties.
The historic Dharara Tower built in the 19th century in Kathmandu collapsed, trapping at least 50 people.
An NDTV report states that major tremors were felt for nearly a minute across large swathes of Northern India including Delhi. The death toll in northern India rose to at least 11, with six killed in after houses collapsed in Uttar Pradesh and five more were found dead in Bihar, according to government officials.
With inputs from IANS
