A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal’s Doti at 2.12 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday, killing six people. The epicentre was in the district’s Khaptad National Park, and tremors could be felt as far away as Delhi, nearly 600 kilometres away.
At least two people are missing, according to Nepal Army spokesperson Narayan Silwal, who added that a rescue team has been dispatched and two helicopters are on standby.
Ram Upadhyay, chairman of the Purbi Chowki rural municipality in the district, told news agency Reuters he was in a nearby village when the quake struck. “It shook terribly and I rushed out immediately. Now we are collecting details including the dead bodies,” he said.
According to Bhola Bhatta, the district deputy superintendent of police, five people were injured and eight houses collapsed. Among those rescued is a child.
All of those killed – two women, two men, and two children – died after falling rubble from destroyed houses.
Nepal’s prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is up for re-election this month, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and ordered medical assistance.
“Expressing my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died in the earthquake, which was cantered in the Khaptad region of (the) far west.”
“I have instructed relevant agencies to arrange immediate and proper treatment of injured and victims in relief and rescue in affected areas,” he tweeted.
The quake struck about 158 kilometres (100 miles) northeast of Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, at a depth of 10 kilometres. Tremors were felt in Delhi and surrounding areas.