An earthquake of moderate strength, registering 6.1 on the Richter scale, jolted Nepal in the wee hours of Friday, sending tremors across neighbouring regions of India. The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre in Nepal confirmed the seismic event, which occurred at approximately 2:36 AM in Bagmati Province. Here are all of the other important details that you would need to know about this particular earthquake in the neighbouring country.
Nepal Shaken By 6.1-Magnitude Earthquake
According to an article that was recently published by the Hindustan Times or the HT, discrepancies in magnitude reports emerged. The German Research Center for Geosciences recorded a magnitude of 5.6 at a depth of 10 kilometres, while the US Geological Survey or the USGS placed it at 5.5.
The epicentre was located about 189 kilometres north of Muzaffarpur in Bihar, India, according to the National Center for Seismology. Despite these variations, the earthquake’s impact was widely felt, causing noticeable shaking and minor structural disturbances near the epicentre.
Residents in areas such as Bihar, Siliguri, Patna, Sikkim, and Darjeeling reported feeling the tremors, with social media posts depicting buildings and ceiling fans swaying.
Impact Felt In Bihar, Siliguri And Other Regions
In the Sindhupalchok district, close to the epicentre, residents were roused from their sleep and evacuated their homes. While initial reports indicated no significant damage or casualties, a landslide was triggered at Dugunagadi Bhir, though the area was sparsely populated.
Subsequently, a jail inmate sustained a broken hand during the evacuation, and a police post in Kodari reported minor cracks. Nepal’s vulnerability to earthquakes stems from its location on a highly active seismic zone, where the Indian tectonic plate collides with the Eurasian plate.
This ongoing collision, contributing to the Himalayan mountain range’s formation, generates substantial underground stress. The release of this stress results in frequent earthquakes. Furthermore, Nepal’s geology, characterised by young and unstable rock formations, amplifies seismic impact.
Coupled with high population density in urban areas and unregulated construction practices, the risk of substantial damage and loss of life remains significant.
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First Published: February 28, 2025 11:12 AM