Bajhang hit by 5.4 Richter earthquake

An earthquake with magnitude 5.4 in Richter scale was recorded in Bajhang district, 460 km west of Kathmandu at 8.12 pm on Saturday. The epicentre of the earthquake is Patadebal of Bajhang, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre.

Earlier an earthquake measuring 6.6 Richter scale was recorded in Doti district, 15 km South of Bajhang on Wednesday, November 8 killing six people. The Bajhang earthquake is the aftershock of the Doti earthquake, according to experts.

However, there is no immediate report about damage or casualty in the Bajhang earthquake.

Meanwhile At least 6 people were killed and eight others were injured in Purvichauki Rural Municipality of the district, according to Home Ministry spokesperson Phanindra Pokharel. Five people who sustained serious injuries have been rushed to the district hospital in Doti, he told PTI over phone. A police post and eight houses have collapsed due to the earthquake.

The epicentre of the earthquake was Khaptad area of Doti district. Nepal Army and Nepal Police personnel have been mobilized to carry out rescue operations.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was also in the Western Nepal for election campaign when the earthquakes hit Western Nepal. He was attending election rallies and meeting people at Dhangadhi district, 160 km South from the epicentre. The tremor was also felt in Dhangadhi though the Prime Minister was safe according to Pokharel. Adjustments will  be made regarding the election campaign of the Prime Minister in Western Nepal keeping in mind the incident, he added.

According to Nepal Army spokesperson Narayan Silwal three persons were missing and are believed to have been trapped in the house collapse in Purvichauki. The Nepal Army has started searching the missing persons, he added. The tremors were also felt in neighbouring Dhangadhi and Kailali district.