Kathmandu, October 6
Aftershocks persist following last Tuesday’s earthquake in Bajhang. There were reports of two aftershocks on Thursday night with around 300 being felt since Tuesday.
According to the records of the National Earthquake Measurement and Research Center, aftershocks measuring 4.5 and 3.9 in magnitude occurred at 10.52 pm and 1.23 am respectively, with their epicentres around Chainpur. The centre has reported more than 300 small and large aftershocks since Tuesday.
Two earthquakes of magnitudes 5.3 and 6.3 occurred in the Bajhang on Tuesday.
Chief District Officer Narayan Pandey informed that aftershocks are still felt with people of the region continuing to live in fear.
Despite the fear, the local residents are gradually returning to normalcy now that the aftershocks have ceased, in contrast to the situation on Wednesday and Thursday. Pandey said, that people on Tuesday and Wednesday refrained from staying indoors fearing an earthquake would demolish their homes. However, now there is a slow resumption of activities, with people starting to return home and resume work.
People who lost their homes are living in makeshift shelters as the local government is distributing aid in the region.
The relief provided by the provincial government reached Bajhang on Thursday. Pandey said that the relief trucks provided by the central government are on their way and will reach the district on Friday.
The government is still in the process of determining the exact extent of the earthquake’s impact on the affected population. Currently, one fatality has been confirmed, along with 20 reported injuries as a result of the earthquake.
The District Disaster Management Committee has urged the municipalities to swiftly provide accurate details about the extent of the damage. Teams from all wards in the municipalities are actively engaged in collecting this information.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is in Bajhang to take stock of the situation in the district.
