Sunday’s earthquake in Sikkim leaves 18 dead this morning, according to media reports. The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 struck at 6:10pm. The epicentre of the quake was Mangan, 64 km from Gangtok in Sikkim, causing major damages in the area. Mild tremors were also felt in Delhi and other parts of North India, reports the Hindustan Times.
Seven people have been killed in Sikkim and five people are reported dead in Nepal. Two persons were reportedly killed in Nalanda and Darbhanga districts of Bihar, out of which one died in a stampede following the tremours.
The army and air force was deployed in Sikkim for rescue and relief operations but their work was hampered by the rain. Met department officials it was likely to continue to rain for the next 24 hours.
Four persons were also reported dead in Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Siliguri in West Bengal. Two Army personnel were also killed in the earthquake. Officials say that at least 33 people are reported to have been injured.
Two to three army vehicles including one bus with army personnel was missing. There has been substantial damage to Army buildings in the area around Sikkim.
Mobile connectivity has also been affected in the quake-hit areas.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and offered all help.
He also directed the cabinet secretary to call an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority, PMO sources said.
In Darjeeling, a power substation collapsed, plunging the hills into darkness. Till late in the night, people refused to go back to their homes.
“I am worried about Darjeeling,” Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said.
“The possibility of a major quake in north Bengal is quite high and earthquakes can cause landslides,” said Met office director GC Debnath.
In Kathmandu, three persons were killed when a boundary wall of the British embassy collapsed.
This is the strongest quake to have rocked the country in 77 years. In 1934, an 8.4-magnitude quake had killed 7,000.