Nepal was still
reeling under the aftermath of April 25 earthquake and its continued
aftershocks when a strong tremor measuring 7.3, according to the India
Meteorological Department and US Geological Department, again hit the Himalayan
nation. First assessment by the USGS found it to be 7.1 in magnitude that was
later revised.
It was earlier
reported as an earthquake but the geological experts later on said that it was
an aftershock of April 25 earthquake and not a fresh one. Even if it was an
aftershock, it was, so far, the most damaging and the strongest one after the
earthquake of April 25.
So, Nepal has felt over
16 tremors today if we go by the IMD and 12 if we go figures available with the USGS. According to the USGS, two
were in Afghanistan and one in China.
The strongest one,
of 7.3, was near Kodari. It was 15 Kms deep, as the USGS finds it. (The Indian
Meteorological Organization's report says it was 10 Kms deep). The quake
epicentre was near Mount Everest base camp near Nepal-China border.
Based on the reports
so far, the epicentre was 83 Kms from Kathmandu, 68 Kms from Namche Bazaar and
22 Kms from Zham in China's Tibet.
Though not high on
death-toll so far, the quake epicentre has suffered extensive damage in the
earthquake. Physical structures are flattened out and there is wide-scale
destruction.
Yes it is not going to
be as damaging as the one on April 25, strongest one in Nepal in 81 years after
1934, but it is sure to worsen the situation there.
Though expected to
be much larger, the death toll from the April 25 quake still hovers around 8100 and the injured count
is around 18000. Among other things, it also tells us about slow pace of
reconnaissance and rehabilitation.
In today's
earthquake, so far, Nepal has reported 42 deaths and around 1100 injured.
More rubble is added
by falling buildings. Aid teams are slowly reaching the remote parts. April 25
earthquake impeded flow of man, machine and materials. Roads were gone in many
areas. Many brides were badly damaged. Phone lines were not working. Nepal was
working slowly, with help of different aid teams, from its own people and from
the international community, to restore the order. But the tremor today would
certainly affect things negatively.
Buildings, already
damaged by April 25 earthquake have collapsed by May 12 earthquake. There are
reports on this line from Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Patan, Bhaktapur and different
areas of Nepal. Today's earthquake is expected to add significantly to the
600,000 houses left uninhabitable and around 200,000 completely decimated.
Like April 25
earthquake, India has been affected by this earthquake as well, though to a
smaller extent. So far, India has reported 17 deaths with 16 from Bihar (and
the figure has remained static over some hours). Like the last time, Bihar has
again suffered the maximum damage in India. Overall, the quake was felt in many
parts of North and Eastern India including Delhi.
Schools are closed
in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Bihar's chief minister has said to arrange for the people
who choose to stay outdoors.
A strong earthquake
of this extent would further add to the trauma of the residents of Nepal. Most
of the victims are still living in camps and their plans will see a further
delay if they had, at all, made up their mind to go back to their homes.
The whole focus was
bringing normalcy to Kathmandu and other quake affected areas but they are
expected to run longer as refugee camps and ghost towns with the latest earthquake
as the experts are predicting continued aftershocks.
People looking for what
is left in their houses in April 25 earthquake, people returning to their
houses somehow after necessary repair (or even if no repair was needed), people
living in refugee camps, people recovering in make-shift and other hospitals, people
waiting for relief to reach them, and people engaged in relief operations -
they all are possible victims of today's strong tremors.
Strong tremor today
has added to the trauma of the earthquake victims. Panic was clearly visible on
Nepal's streets. Aid workers and people of different remote areas are further
isolated. The 7.3 tremor today jammed traffic, choked communication lines and
brought down the power lines.
Kathamandu's
Tibhuvan International Airport, Nepal's only international airport, that was
closed due to April 25 earthquake and had to be closed again as its main runway
had suffered cracks with landing of larger jetliners while the airport was
equipped with medium sized jets only, was temporarily closed again today.
India sent an MI-17
helicopter in the quake aftermath today to carry out assessment work to offer
help. India established its quake-helplines and assured Nepal any help needed.
Though Nepal has
tried to iron out its bureaucratic, administrative and government lapses in the
aftermath, the Nepali government is accused by its people of delay in rescue,
relief and reconnaissance operations. When the April 25 quake happened, Nepal
took some days to lift taxes on the aid material. It had to close its Tribhuvan
airport as it could not handle the aid material. It stopped many large
aircrafts with air material to land. Britain is still negotiating with Nepal to
land its military helicopters there to assist the relief operations.