More than 1500 killed in Nepal earthquake

Risingbd Desk: More than 1,500 people have died after a massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck 80km east of Pokhara in Nepal about half way between the town and the capital Kathmandu.

50 more people were also killed in India. Among them, 23 people have died in Bihar, eight in Uttar Pradesh, and three in West Bengal, where 40 children have also been injured after their school was damaged in Malda town.
 
The Saturday`s earthquake was the worst to hit Nepal in 80 years. Nepal`s capital of Kathmandu has been left devastated with roads split open, and homes and iconic landmarks collapsed into rubble. There was little information coming from the outlying areas of the mountainous country and helicopters were circling overheard to get a sense of the damage.

The Nepal government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas, and help has been offered by countries around the world.

The historic Dharara Tower built in the 19th century in Kathmandu collapsed, trapping at least 50 people, Nepal media reported. The tower had been open to visitors for the last 10 years and had a viewing balcony on its eighth floor. Witnesses spoke of dead bodies being removed from the site.

Photographs from Kathmandu posted online showed buildings left in rubble, large cracks along roads and residents sitting in the street holding babies.

Tremors were felt across the region, as far afield as Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Agencies

risingbd/DHAKA/Apr 25, 2015/Augustin Sujan