Earthquake in India, Nepal, China leaves 82 dead

Indian Interior Secretary R K Singh said at least 68 persons have been killed in the earthquake that rocked several states of the country recently, while asserting that relief and rescue operations are in full swing.On Sunday (September 18), a massive earthquake, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, ripped across Indias northeastern Sikkim state and parts of Nepal and China, causing colossal damage to life and property in the affected areas.Such was the intensity of the quake that strong tremors were felt in several parts of India, including the eastern Bihar and West Bengal states, northern Uttar Pradesh province and even the national capital, New Delhi. Expressing concern at the damage caused by the earthquake, Singh revealed the death count reported from the affected states.“The number of deaths reported by the state government of Sikkim is 50. This may increase further as rescue and relief teams reach into the interiors. The number of deaths in West Bengal are reported to be 12 and in Bihar, six,” Singh told mediapersons in New Delhi. Seven people were believed killed in Nepal while seven more deaths have been reported from Tibet. With these statistics, the total death toll of the earthquake now stands at 82. However, landslides, rain and fog hampered rescue work for the second consecutive day, with high mountain passes to the worst affected region blocked by rocks and mud.Several roads, buildings and houses were damaged in the calamity, and hundreds sustained injuries due to the impact.The earthquake also damaged the town’s infrastructure, with locals reeling under disrupted electric supply and severely ravaged roads that brought traffic to a virtual standstill and hampered rescue and salvage efforts.