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Officials reported that search and rescue operations in Nepal, following the earthquake, came to a close on Sunday, with the primary focus now being the provision of aid to survivors in need of food and shelter. The earthquake, measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale, struck late Friday, resulting in at least 157 casualties in remote western regions of the Himalayan nation. Many survivors were forced to spend the night exposed to the elements, as their mud houses were reduced to rubble.
In the hardest-hit Jajarkot district, particularly in the village of Nalgad, several lives were lost. A 34-year-old plumber, Mahesh Chanare, prepared to cremate his father-in-law, but fortunately, the rest of his family was unharmed. However, the disaster had buried their possessions, leaving them with minimal food and no relief supplies.
Read more : 70 People Died In Nepal Due To 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake
According to officials, Jajarkot witnessed a total of 105 fatalities, and an additional 52 people lost their lives in the neighboring Rukum district. Over 100 individuals sustained injuries, and search and rescue operations were completed. The provincial police spokesperson, Gopal Chandra Bhattarai, stated that while they were in contact with all affected areas, they remained vigilant due to the region’s remoteness, which could result in isolated pockets without communication.
Harish Chandra Sharma, an official from Jajarkot district, emphasized the current focus on delivering relief to the earthquake victims. The aftermath of the quake was harrowing, with locals working tirelessly in the darkness to extract survivors from the wreckage of collapsed structures, while others sought safety outdoors. The earthquake’s impact was felt as far away as New Delhi, India’s capital, nearly 500 kilometers from the epicenter. Security forces, both on foot and in helicopters, were deployed to aid in the search and rescue efforts.
Nepal is situated on a significant geological faultline, where the Indian tectonic plate collides with the Eurasian plate, giving rise to the Himalayan mountain range. Earthquakes are a recurring phenomenon in the region. In 2015, Nepal experienced a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that resulted in nearly 9,000 fatalities and more than 22,000 injuries, along with widespread destruction of homes. Furthermore, in November of the previous year, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake in Doti district, near Jajarkot, claimed the lives of six individuals. The earthquake on Friday was followed by a 4.0-magnitude aftershock in the same area, as reported by the US Geological Survey.
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