7 killed in Nepal as earthquake strikes Himalayan region

At least seven people have died in Nepal after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Himalayan region, the strongest trembler to hit the country after the devastating earthquake of 1934.

Three persons were crushed to death when a wall of the British embassy compound collapsed in the capital Kathmandu after the quake struck the region last evening.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, which is adjacent to the British mission, is safe.

Two persons were killed in Sunsari district and one each in Dhankuta and Sankhuwasabha districts in eastern Nepal, according to Home Ministry sources.

Altogether, 41 people were seriously injured while 68 others sustained minor injuries, said the sources.

The epicenter of the earthquake was the border between Taplejung district of Nepal, 300km east of Kathmandu, and Sikkim and Darjeeling of India, according to National Seismological Department of Nepal.

This is the strongest trembler recorded in Nepal after the devastating earthquake of 1934 which killed 15,000 people.

The trembler damaged 103 houses mainly in eastern Nepal districts including Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha and Ramechhap districts. A dozen after shock tremors measuring 4 Richter magnitude have been recorded in Nepal Kathmandu.

Last evening an emergency meeting was held at Home Ministry which was attended by chiefs of various security agencies to deal with the disaster, said Ekmani Nepal, a senior official at Home Ministry.

A central Control Room has been set up in Kathmandu under the home minister to monitor the situation and to coordinate works relating to the relief works, he added.