April 25 Earthquake At A Glance: 270 aftershocks over 4 Richter in a month
Kathmandu, May 26,
It has been a month since the devastating earthquake measuring 7.6 on the
Richter scale struck the country last month. But, the country is continued to
feel aftershocks since then.
A total of 270 aftershocks over 4 Richter
scale were recorded in a period of a month since April 25, the day when the
country was rattled by the major earthquake, according to Chief of National
Seismological Center Lok Bijay Adhikari. Over 20 thousand tremors including
mild were felt in this period.
The deadly April
25 earthquake with its epicenter at Barpak of
Gorkha rattled
the country at 11:56 am local time killing thousands of people and injuring
many. The Gorkha quake was followed by several aftershocks including three
major ones (above 6 Richter scale) . The 6.6- Richter scale aftershock with its
epicenter at the same location was recorded on the same day or April 25.
The country was
hit by other two powerful aftershocks measuring 6.6 Richter scale on April 26,
and 6.9 Richter scale on May 12.The epicenter of
the May 12 aftershock was in the border of Sindhupalchowk and Dolkaha that caused massive damages in these
districts.
During a month
period, some 19 aftershocks measuring above 5 Richter were felt, stated the
website of National Seismological Centre (NSC). Altogether 8,673 people
including 4,779 women, 3,893 women and one unidentified had lost their lives to
the devastating earthquake, police confirmed. Among the deceased, the dead
bodies of 8,640 were handed over to their relatives. Number of injured in the
natural disaster is 21,944 among which 4,877 are being treated in different
hospitals to this date.
Death toll from
the earthquake is 1,734 in the capital, 57 in eastern region, 6,430 in central
region, 451 in western region and two in mid-western region. Likewise, the
score of injured is 12,983 in the capital, 453 in eastern region, 7,234 in
central region, 1,246 in western region, 36 in mid-western region and two in
far-western region.Of total
deceased, six are Nepal Police personnel, nine of Nepal Army personnel and one
Armed Police Force personnel.
Similarly, 11
government employees and 79 foreign nationals lost their lives to the quake
while 205 Nepali and 80 foreigners are still missing.Likewise, of
total 470, 991 houses recorded to have sustained partial and complete damage in
the quake, Kathmandu Valley alone saw the damage of 67,188 houses.
45,930 houses in
eastern region, 200,862 in central region, 146,768 in western region, 10,085 in
mid-western and 148 houses in far-western region suffered damages due to the
quake and recurring powerful aftershocks.
Hundreds of temples
and monuments of historical importance and those enlisted in the World Heritage
Sites including Basantapur Dubar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar
Square, Boudhnath Stupa and Changunarayan Temple also sustained damages.
The historical
tower, Dharahara, has also been reduced to rubble due to the notorious April 25
quake.At least 14
districts including Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha,
Gorkha, Dhading, Makawanpur, Sindhuli, Rasuwa, Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Kavre
and Nuwakot experienced the worst impact of the earthquake, which affected over
40 districts of Nepal.
The government
has entered the phase of rebuilding after the search, rescue and relief
operation in the immediate aftermath of the massive quake. The government has
announced Rs 15,000 in assistance to the homeless quake survivors for
purchasing zinc corrugated sheets to construct makeshift temporary shelters.The government
has already distributed Rs 100,000 in compensation for families losing members
in the natural calamity and additional Rs 40,000 for performing cremation or
funeral rites of the deceased.
The government is
planning to hold a conference for the donors on coming June 25 focusing on its
rebuilding efforts.More than 4,000
military personnel and medics from 34 different countries were mobilized in the
search, rescue and relief operation in support of Nepal Army, Armed Police
Force and Nepal Police including representatives of a string of organizations
and volunteers following the calamitous earthquake.The country's
normal life has been put out of gear following the worst earthquake after the
8.4 magnitude earthquake on January 15, 1934 (Magh 2, 1990 BS).