The earthquake that hit Bihar too claimed 38 lives and left 133 injured, mostly in border districts of the north-eastern part of the State.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cut short his Delhi visit and returned to Patna to take stock of the situation and announced compensation to the family members of those killed in the quake.
“It was a great intensity earthquake,” Mr. Kumar told journalists.
Officials said the toll might go up as reports from remote areas were yet to come.
The earthquake hit those areas of north-eastern Bihar, bordering Nepal which, two days ago, were badly affected by a thunderstorm in which 48 people were killed and hundreds rendered homeless. The most number of casualties – six each — has been reported from Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and Champaran districts.
Reports of death have also come from Darbhanga, Sheohar, Katihar, Madhubani, Forbesganj, Rohtas, Chhapra and Vaishali.
Meanwhile, the State government announced a compensation of Rs. 4 lakh to the family members of those killed.
8 killed in U.P
Lucknow Correspondent writes:
Eight persons were killed and several injured on Saturday as houses and walls collapsed after massive tremors rippled across almost the entire Uttar Pradesh.
An official spokesman said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced a compensation of Rs. 7 lakh for the next of the kin of the deceased, Rs. 50,000 for the seriously injured and Rs. 20,000 for those with minor injuries.
