The tremors were also felt across northern India and several eastern parts of the country, including Assam and Nagaland. LS Rathore, director general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said that the earthquake’s epicentre was 60 km east of Kathmandu.
He said that after the earthquake, three aftershocks were also reported at close intervals. “The first aftershock was reported at 1.04 pm with an intensity of 5.4 on the Richter scale, the second one was of 6.2 magnitude and came at 1.06 pm, and the last one was witnessed at 1.44 pm with a magnitude of 4.8 on the Richter scale,” he said and added that the aftershocks will continue for at least few more weeks or months.
“At around 12.38 pm, the earthquake was felt. After that, train services were stopped which resumed at 12.45 pm,” a Delhi Metro official said.
Officials of the fire department said that no casualty was reported in the national Capital.
“As of now, no casualty has been reported in Delhi due to earthquake which continued for a few
seconds,” said an official of Delhi fire department.
Metro trains run at restricted speed after quake
Delhi Metro trains were operated at a restricted speed following the quake in the national Capital on Tuesday. “We have a standard drill in <g data-gr-id="55">earthquake</g> situation. So trains, which are all centrally controlled, stopped momentarily when the tremor lasted. And, services were resumed after that,” DMRC’s Executive Director for Corporate Communications Anuj Dayal said. Flight services from Delhi airport <g data-gr-id="52">too,</g> were halted for more than two hours.
A Kathmandu borne Jet Airways flight from Mumbai was routed to Lucknow as a flight for Kathmandu was held in Delhi airport following the closure of Kathmandu airport. “During these situations, we operate trains at cautionary or restricted speed. So, that’s what we did. But, no, train services were not affected, they were slowed down,” he said. Passengers complained of <g data-gr-id="53">decrease</g> in <g data-gr-id="54">frequency</g> of trains.