Tremor Strikes Northwest Nepal: Over 128 Dead, Numerous Injuries, Toll Expected to Climb

Northwest Nepal was hit by a severe earthquake shortly before midnight on Friday, prompting a swift response with helicopters and ground forces dispatched to assist the affected victims. As of Saturday, officials confirmed at least 128 fatalities and multiple injuries, with the anticipation that the casualty figures would escalate.

Communication breakdowns have isolated many areas, exacerbating the crisis.

With the break of dawn, rescue operations intensified as helicopters ferried in to aid the wounded, and ground security personnel worked tirelessly to retrieve victims trapped under debris, according to Nepal police representative Kuber Kadayat.

Military units are actively removing debris to reopen thoroughfares and mountain passages obstructed by quake-induced landslides. Medical teams and supplies were also airlifted to local healthcare facilities in the affected zones.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was among those visiting the disaster-hit regions, arriving by helicopter alongside a medical contingent. Dahal is notably linked to the area, having initiated a decade-long communist insurrection there from 1996 to 2006.

The quake’s epicenter, located in the Jajarkot district, bore the brunt of the disaster, with 92 confirmed deaths and 55 injuries reported by Kadayat.

Adjacent Rukum district suffered at least 36 fatalities, with the collapse of numerous dwellings. There, at least 85 injured individuals were transported to the local hospital for emergency care.

The regional medical facility in Nepalgunj prepared over 100 beds, with medical staff on standby to attend to the influx of casualties.

Bimal Kumar Karki, a quake survivor and one of the first to receive care at the regional hospital, recounted his harrowing experience: “I was jolted awake by the intense shaking. I attempted to flee, but my home crumbled, trapping me beneath the ruins. My cries for help were among many, as my neighbors were caught in similar plights. It took a significant amount of time before rescuers could reach me.”

Rescue teams and local residents collaborated through the night, braving the dark to rescue the injured and deceased from the wreckage of their homes.

The tremor, which struck as many were asleep, was also felt in India’s capital of New Delhi, situated more than 800 kilometers away.

The U.S. Geological Survey registered the earthquake at a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 with an 11-mile depth. Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring & Research Center pinpointed its epicenter in Jajarkot, roughly 400 kilometers from Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

Earthquake occurrences are not unusual for Nepal, with a devastating 7.8 magnitude quake in 2015 resulting in approximately 9,000 deaths and substantial structural damage.

India extended a hand for assistance in the wake of this tragedy.

Expressing his condolences, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his profound sorrow over the deaths and destruction caused by the earthquake in Nepal through social media.

“India remains united with the Nepalese people and pledges to provide all necessary aid,” he stated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Nepal Earthquake Relief

More about Nepal Earthquake Relief

• Nepal Earthquake Casualty Update
• Rescue Efforts Amidst Nepal Tremor
• Prime Minister Dahal’s Response to the Quake
• Geological Data on Nepal Earthquake
• India’s Aid to Nepal Post-Quake