Nepal was rocked by an earthquake on Friday, leaving over 100 people dead. The epicenter of the 6.4-magnitude earthquake was located at Lamidanda in the Jajarkot district.

The earthquake that struck at 11:47 p.m. on Friday affected Kathmandu and the surrounding areas, as well as New Delhi in neighboring India.

500 kilometers  west of Kathmandu, in the rough districts of Jajarkot and Rukum, security troops have been sent in to support rescue operations.

Within an hour after the first tremor, three further tremors occurred and many people chose to spend the rest of the night outside out of fear for other aftershocks and possible harm to their homes.

Locals were seen pulling the rubble of collapsed houses and buildings for survivors as they searched through it in the dead of night.

Suresh Sunar, the district police officer of Jajarkot, told the Reuters news agency that it was difficult to obtain a complete picture of the incidents.

“Even myself, I am in the open. We are gathering information, but it is challenging to reach remote places with the cold and darkness,” Mr. Sunar told Reuters.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the prime minister of Nepal, expressed his sorrow over the tragic death toll and the serious damage the earthquake has done to the country’s infrastructure.

“Honorable Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has expressed his deep sorrow over the human loss and  damage caused by the earthquake at Ramidanda in Jajarkot at 11:47 on Friday night and has mobilized all 3 security agencies for the immediate rescue and relief of the injured,” Nepal PMO posted on X.

जाजरकोटको रामीडाँडा केन्द्रविन्दु भएर शुक्रबार राति ११ः४७ मा गएको भूकम्पबाट भएको मानवीय तथा भौतिक क्षतिप्रति सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहाल “प्रचण्ड”ले गहिरो दुख व्यक्त गर्दै घाइतेहरुको तत्काल उद्धार र राहतका लागि ३ वटै सुरक्षा निकायलाई परिचालित गर्नुभएको छ।

— PMO Nepal (@PM_nepal_) November 3, 2023

Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the prime minister of Nepal, has reportedly left for the earthquake-affected area. According to officials, members of the Nepal Army and Nepal Police have been called up to assist with rescue operations.

Local official Harish Chandra Sharma of Jajarkot said that at least 34 persons had died in his district, while police official Namaraj Bhattarai of the neighboring Rukum West district reported at least 35 deaths.

“To reach the affected areas, rescue and search teams must clear roads blocked by dry landslides caused by the earthquake,” Bhattarai stated.

With a magnitude of 5.6, the US Geological Survey classified the earthquake as shallow, suggesting that it occurred closer to the surface of the earth.

Nepal earthquakes

Nepal is located near the Himalayas, a region known for its intense earthquake activity.

Last month a 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Bajhang’s western area caused injuries.

Two catastrophic earthquakes struck the nation in 2015, leaving 22,309 people injured and 9,000 dead.

The first, on April 25, 2015, was a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that resulted in most of the destruction and deaths. There were other aftershocks that followed, one measuring 7.3 in May of 2015.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reports that over 800,000 houses were either destroyed or severely damaged by the earthquakes, mostly in the western and central provinces.

Numerous villages north of Kathmandu were demolished and government buildings, certain road segments, and the well-known historic monuments in the Kathmandu Valley, UNESCO World Heritage Sites were damaged and completely destroyed.

Indian PM Modi Expresses Solidary With Nepal

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the deaths brought on by the earthquake in Nepal.

PM Narendra Modi posted on his official X account, expressing his deep sadness over the deaths and devastation caused by the earthquake in Nepal. India is prepared to offer all help that it can to the people of Nepal, with whom it stands in solidarity. We wish the wounded a speedy recovery and our prayers are with the grieving families.”

Deeply saddened by loss of lives and damage due to the earthquake in Nepal. India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and we wish the injured a quick recovery. @cmprachanda

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 4, 2023

Tremors in India

Many Northern Indian states reported tremors amidst the earthquake. Delhi and NCR also felt the jots. Many more places Bihar, Patna, Motihar, Katihar, Kheri, Pilibhit, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Sidhartnagar, Lucknow to name a few. Locals rushed out of their buildings and houses. No casuality or damage was however reported.

Earthquake of Magnitude:6.4, Occurred on 03-11-2023, 23:32:54 IST, Lat: 28.84 & Long: 82.19, Depth: 10 Km ,Location: Nepal, for more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/SSou5Hs0eO@ndmaindia @Indiametdept @Dr_Mishra1966 @Ravi_MoES @KirenRijiju @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/XBXjcT29WX

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) November 3, 2023

This is the third stance of earthquake felt in Nepal since October this year.

First on October 3, two earthquakes jolted the country measuring  6.2 and 4.6 and parts of northern India. Then October 22, another earthquake , 5.2 on Richter Scale, was reported causing some damage and landslide in the region.