Nat’l Capital rocked for nearly a minute

The national Capital shook for nearly a minute as a massive earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck Nepal on Saturday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the quake, measuring 6 in Delhi, had a depth of 10 km and its impact lasted up to one minute.

The earthquake struck at 11.41 am India time, claiming 900 lives and leaving many bloodied in the Himalayan country. The epicentre was 77 km northwest of Kathmandu. 

In India too, the quake killed 34 people. The maximum damage was reported from Bihar, where 23 people died. Three people died in West Bengal and eight in Uttar Pradesh. 

Nearly 14 repeat tremors were felt, the government said. While no major damage was reported from across the capital, the quake jolted people and forced them to rush out of their houses and offices looking for safe havens. Many rushed out of their offices across the city when they felt the tremors. 

According to Met chief LS Rathore, people died due to faulty building design. 

“There has not been much damage (in Delhi). It is not the earthquake that kills, it’s the faulty design 

and badly made buildings that kill people,” Rathore said when asked about the damage in Delhi due to the quake.