Nepal Earthquake: Death Toll Rises To 157, PM Dahal Calls Cabinet Meeting Tomorrow — Top Points

The earthquake, with an epicentre in Jajarkot district, roughly 500 kilometres west of Kathmandu, was reported at 11:47 p.m. on Friday.

Nepali police officers inspect the rubble of houses in Jajarkot district. ( Image Source :Getty )

Officials stated on Saturday that a severe 6.4 magnitude earthquake slammed Nepal and demolished hundreds of dwellings in the Himalayan country's remote mountainous area, killing at least 157 people and injuring over 357 others, The Kathmand Post reported. The earthquake, with an epicentre in Jajarkot district, roughly 500 kilometres west of Kathmandu, was reported at 11:47 p.m. on Friday, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre.

"There has been a lot of damage in the earthquake-affected area. Hundreds of people are injured, thousands of houses have been destroyed, and our government is engaged in relief work. We have deployed the Nepali Army, Nepali Sentinel. The Armed Police Force has been given the responsibility of taking all the injured to the hospitals for rescue through helicopters. Health workers are also reaching the spot by taking health equipment from the surrounding districts through helicopters. We have also rescued our own injured with our helicopters. Our government is doing the work that should be done for today and tomorrow. Tomorrow we have called a Cabinet meeting along with a meeting of the Disaster Management Committee...," said Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Kathmandu | Nepal earthquake: "There has been a lot of damage in the earthquake-affected area. Hundreds of people are injured, thousands of houses have been destroyed, and our government is engaged in relief work. We have deployed the Nepali Army, Nepali Sentinel. The Armed… pic.twitter.com/QELPyG3OSk

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2023

Top Points

• The earthquake on Friday was the most catastrophic in the country since the 2015 earthquake, which killed over 9,000 people and wounded over 22,000 more. The quake was felt in Kathmandu and nearby regions, as well as in neighbouring India's New Delhi. 
• According to Nepal Army spokesperson Krishna Prasad Bhandari, the Nepal Army activated its forces Friday shortly after the earthquake to take out rescue operations at the event site.
• On Saturday, rescue crews combed through the ruins of fallen houses in search of survivors.
• According to state-run Nepal Television, the quake struck the Jajarkot and Rukum districts of western Nepal the hardest. According to the Prime Minister's secretariat, the number of people dead in Jajarkot and Rukum as a result of the earthquake has risen to 140.
• The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre reported 159 aftershocks following last night's earthquake.
• On Saturday morning, Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal 'Prachanda' inspected the earthquake-ravaged district with a medical team. During his visit, he acquired data on the extent of the damage and examined the impacted areas with the Chief District Officer. He later returned to Surkhet from Jajarkot with seven injured individuals and their families.
• “Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property in the earthquake on Friday night and has mobilised all the three security bodies for the immediate rescue and relief,” reads a post from the prime minister’s office on X.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed great sadness over the deaths and devastation caused by 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," Modi posted on X. 
• According to authorities, the injured are being treated at the Surkhet District Hospital. Prime Minister Prachanda has directed security services to begin rescue and relief efforts immediately.
• The government has sanctioned an immediate payment of Rs 100 million to earthquake victims. In addition, the Home Ministry agreed to contribute Rs 5.5 million to disaster relief funds in both the Jajarkot and Rukum West districts, with the goal of assisting with rescue and relief activities for those impacted. The Ministry of Home Affairs has despatched early relief supplies by helicopters of the Nepali Army.