4.1 magnitude earthquake hits western Nepal

Kathmandu, Nov 10 (PTI) A 4.1-magnitude earthquake hit western Nepal on Thursday, a day after a powerful 6.6-magnitude earthquake jolted Himalayan nation, which killed six people and sparked panic among citizens.

According to National Earthquake Monitoring & Research Centre, earthquake occurred at 5.13 am on Thursday, with its epicentre at Ka area in Khapt Chhededaha rural municipality of Bajura district, situated 750 km from Kathmandu.

Center said that latest quake is not aftershock of Gorkha Earthquake of 2015 but a fresh earthquake.

No loss of lives were reported so far.

Wednesday's earthquake occurred at 2:12 am with its epicentre at Khapt National Park in Doti district of quake-prone Himalayan nation, damaging scores of houses and sparking panic among people who were sleeping.

Six persons were killed and eight ors injured in earthquake, Home Ministry spokesperson Phanindra Pokharel told PTI over phone.

He said that government has instructed local ministration to immediately distribute relief materials and compensation to victims.

kin of those killed will be provided Rs 200,000 per he as compensation, he said.

six injured have been mitted to district Hospital in Doti while two ors who sustained serious injuries have been airlifted to Seti Zonal Hospital in Dhanghi, according to Home Ministry officials.

At least 10 houses were completely damaged in quake, y said.

According to Nepal Army spokesperson Narayan Silwal, three persons were missing and are believed to have been trapped in housing collapse in Purvichauki. Nepal Army has started searching for missing persons, he said.

Prime Minister Sher Bahur Deuba who is in western Nepal for an election campaign is safe.

He was attending election rallies and meeting people at Dhanghi district, 160 km south of epicentre.

tremor was also felt in Dhanghi though Prime Minister is safe, according to Pokharel.

Nepal will be going for elections for federal Parliament as well as provincial assemblies on November 20.

Deuba has instructed officials to arrange immediate and proper treatment of injured in earthquake-affected areas.

"I pay homage to those killed in Deldhura earthquake and my condolences to bereaved family members," he tweeted.

"I also instruct concerned authorities to speed up rescue and relief works and treatment of those injured in incident," he ded.

Nepal Army and Nepal Police personnel have been mobilised to carry out rescue operations.

Earthquakes are frequent in mountainous Nepal.

On October 19, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted Nepal's capital Kathmandu and joining areas, forcing many people to rush out of ir homes for safety.

earthquake was felt in Kathmandu Valley and neighbouring districts. re was no report of any damage or casualties.

In April 2015, a devastating earthquake of 7.8-magnitude rocked Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 people and wounding nearly 22,000 ors.

It also damaged over 800,000 houses and school buildings. PTI SBP GRS VM AKJ VM