Massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake devastates Nepal. Strong tremors felt across entire North India and NE India

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Massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake devastates Nepal. Strong tremors felt across entire North India and NE IndiaAn earthquake measuring 7.5 magnitude struck 80 km (50 miles) east of Pokhara in Nepal on Saturday, about half way between the town and the capital Kathmandu. Tremors have been felt right across the entire northern Indian belt, from Rajasthan to the states in the north east. The quake was 31 km (19 miles) deep.
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This is the second largest earthquake to rock the region since 1934, when an earthquake measuring over 8 on the Richter scale, nearly wiped out the entire area. Though slightly lesser in magnitude, today’s earthquake, given it is continental in nature, is expected to create widespread devastation in and around the epicentre.

So strong has been its impact, that several strong after shocks have been felt even as far as Delhi NCR since then. The impact in Delhi around the first earthquake was around 5 on the richter scale. The aftershock that followed the massive earthquake measured 6.6 on the richter scale at the epicentre in Nepal. Several pictures from Kathmandu showing damaged and destroyed buildings have already started pouring in.

The Indian Meteorological Department has issued an alert for the entire region that has felt the tremors in India including the national capital region, stating people to stay away from concrete structures once aftershocks begin, given an earthquake of this magnitude has the power of damaging even the strongest of buildings.

What is a big cause of concern however is the level of preparedness that one can expect in the national capital region, given it falls in Earthquake Zone 4, or the second most dangerous geographical zone for earthquakes in India, followed only by the entire Himalayan belt, which is the most earthquake prone area in India (Zone 5).

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