At least 132 people have been killed in a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that struck a remote area of Nepal late on Friday, according to officials. Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives and property in the earthquake. The quake, with a depth of only 18 kilometres, hit the far west of the Himalayan country, causing significant damage to homes and buildings, as per the US Geological Survey. Videos and images circulated on social media depicted locals bravely engaging in nighttime rescue efforts, digging through rubble of collapsed homes and buildings to extract survivors. Mud houses were either flattened or severely damaged, forcing survivors to seek refuge outside amidst the wailing sirens of emergency vehicles.

The impact of the earthquake was felt as far away as India's capital, New Delhi, nearly 500 kilometres from the epicentre, located 42 kilometres south of Jumla. "Ninety-two people died in Jajarkot and 40 in Rukum," Nepalese home ministry spokesman Narayan Prasad Bhattarai told reporters, referring to the two districts hit worst by the quake. National police spokesman Kuber Kathayat reported over 100 individuals injured across both affected districts.

Security forces have been mobilized to aid in search and rescue operations, with Karnali Province police spokesman Gopal Chandra Bhattarai confirming their deployment to media. "The remoteness of the districts makes it difficult for information to get through," he added. "Some roads had been blocked by damage, but we are trying to reach the area through alternate routes." The district hospital is overwhelmed with residents bringing in injured victims for medical attention.

'Human and physical damages’

Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal arrived at the site of the quake on Saturday after expressing "his deep sorrow over the human and physical damage caused by the earthquake". In neighbouring India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of lives. "India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance," he added. Nepal, situated on a major geological faultline, frequently experiences earthquakes due to the convergence of the Indian tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate, forming the Himalayas. In 2015, a devastating 7.8-magnitude quake resulted in nearly 9,000 casualties and over 22,000 injuries, leaving more than half a million homes destroyed. The aftermath also saw extensive damage to schools, affecting almost one million children.

This recent earthquake follows a similar event in November of the previous year, where six lives were lost due to a 5.6-magnitude quake in Doti district, near Jajarkot. Social media users in northern Indian cities such as Lucknow and Patna reported feeling the tremors. The initial quake was succeeded by an aftershock in the same region, measuring 4.0 on the magnitude scale, according to the US Geological Survey.

Caretaker PM Kakar expresses condolences

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Saturday expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives and property in the Nepal earthquake. “Pakistan stands with Nepal during this difficult time and is ready to extend whatever assistance is required.,” Kakar wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)