Fear not subsides in quake-affected area in eastern Nepal

Fear among locals of Taplejung district in eastern Nepal which has been witnessing a recurrence of earthquakes for three days, has not subsided, local media reported on Saturday.

The quake-affected people are spending nights under the open sky in spite of rain, The Himalayan Times reported.

According to the daily, mudslides and stone coming loose continued in the area on Friday as well after the earthquake, police quoted affected locals as saying.

Many houses have developed cracks and some of them have crumbled after the earthquake while the local school was damaged and classes are disrupted, the daily said.

According to the latest information, the area has received 15 jolts since Wednesday 10:00 am local time (0415 GMT).

The repeated jolts have sparked fears of a volcanic eruption, the daily quoted some locals as saying.

According to locals, a volcanic eruption had occurred in the area many years ago.

The rooftops of dozens of houses were destroyed after the earthquake and rooms were also damaged as the ground floor cracked, said the daily.

Taplejung chief district officer Himnath Dawadi said that the locals were alarmed at the repeated jolts.

Though a police team was dispatched, the rescue operation is facing challenges due to remoteness and pre-monsoon rainfall, he added.

Red Cross personnel were also sent there, he said.

It takes a two-day walk from district headquarters Fugling to reach quake-affected Mehele area, some 300 km east of Kathmandu.

Source: Xinhua