One killed in Bajura, 25 houses damaged as earthquake rattles Western Nepal

DHANGADHI/BAJURA, Jan 24: At least one person was killed and two others were injured when a strong earthquake struck Bajura district on Tuesday afternoon. The earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale rattled western Nepal with its epicenter around the Mela area of Bajura district in Sudurpaschim Province at 2:43 pm on Tuesday.

According to AFP, the quake was felt as far as the Indian capital New Delhi, where “buildings briefly shook”.

The locals reported that a woman died after being hit by a stone that fell upon her following the earthquake. The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Jamuna Rokaya of Gaumul Rural Municipality-2.     

Rokaya had gone to collect fodder for her cattle when a boulder fell from up the hill and hit her. She died on the spot, according to Prem Bahadur Rokaya, a local resident.    

Meanwhile, initial reports suggest that 25 houses have been damaged in various places of of Karnali Province.     

According to Sudurpaschim Province Police Chief Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ashok Singh, the earthquake caused destruction and damage to a number of houses in Bajura and Bajhang districts.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Surya Thapa told the state-owned news agency RSS that several houses in Badimalika Municipality, Himali Rural Municipality and Gaumul Rural Municipality were damaged due to the earthquake.     

Similarly, a landslide triggered by the earthquake resulted in the death of over 40 sheep belonging to Ramdal Bohora. One person was injured in the incident.

Following the earthquake, the telecommunication service in the district has been interrupted. More details of the damage caused by the earthquake are yet to be received, RSS quoted DSP Thapa  as saying. 

This is the second major earthquake to hit western Nepal within two months.

In November, six people were killed when a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Doti district in western Nepal.