Nepal

Six people died when a strong earthquake destroyed a house in Doti in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The strong earthquake with its epicentre 2 km from Kalukheti rocked Sudurpaschim Province. The tremor was felt as far away as the Indian capital Delhi and parts of China.

Deputy Superintendent Bhola Prasad Bhatt of the District Police Office said that six people from Thada village of East Chowki Rural Municipality-3 died when the house collapsed due to the earthquake.

DSP Bhatta said all six who were sleeping died after being buried in the debris. Eight old mud houses in Thada village collapsed in the powerful tremor that also damage other structures in the surrounding areas. 

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center, an earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale hit Khaptad National Park of Doti at 9:07 on Tuesday night. That was followed by a bigger quake – registered at 6.6 on the Richter scale – at 2:12 on Wednesday.

The police have identified the deceased as 38-year-old Bhagwati Bohara, her 13-year-old daughter Sita Bohara and seven-year-old son Harak Bohara. 

Similarly, 45-year-old Prem Bohara, his 12-year-old daughter Tulsi Bohara and Dhansari, 17-year-old daughter of Mahabir Bohara, who were sleeping in Bohara's house, also died in the incident.

Five others in the same ward, who sustained injuries due to the quake, are receiving treatment at the local health post.

Nepal Army, Nepal Police personnel and local volunteers are currently engaged in rescue and recovery efforts in the earthquake-affected areas. A team from Nepal Army’s Bhairav Prasad Battalion has been deployed to remove the debris from the houses and rescue the affected people.