An update on Earthquake with its epicentre in Nepal
Posted on: 26/Apr/2015 11:12:39 AM
An earthquake with an intensity of 7.9 on ritcher scale with epicenter 77 kilometer north-west of Kathmandu has been experienced yesterday. The impact of the earthquake has been felt in almost all northern States in India particularly in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been in constant touch with all the affected States to assess the situation.
As per the latest information, 34 deaths have been confirmed so far with 23 deaths in Bihar, 8 in Uttar Pradesh and 3 in West Bengal. In order to deal with the situation in the affected States, 5 teams of National Disaster Response Force( NDRF) have already been sent; one team to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and one each to Darbhanga, Supaul, Motihari and Gopalganj in Bihar.
Each team of NDRF consists of 45 personnel who are fully equipped with the modern equipments to deal with search and rescue operations. The team also includes medical and para-medics. The teams have equipments such as live detector machines, cutters which can cut steel, concrete and wood. There are sniffer dogs in these teams. Hence the teams are self-sufficient to deal with all aspects involved in search and rescue operations after an earthquake.
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) in the Cabinet Secretariat has already met and reviewed the situation through video-conferencing with the Chief Secretaries of affected States. The NCMC will be meeting regularly to take stock of the situation and the relief measures. The Central Government ise in constant touch with the States and monitoring the situation very closely. The States will be provided with all possible help from the Central Government.
Control Rooms 24X7 have been set up both in MHA and NDMA with following number:-011- 2309 3564, 23093566 (MHA Control Room ), 011-26701728, 26701729, 9868881801(M) – (NDMA Control Room) Meanwhile , an inter Governmental coordination cell has been set up in Cabinet Secretariat which will coordinate all relief measures for Nepal as well as for Indian States. This will function on round-the-clock basis and the phone numbers are :- 011- 2301 6633, 2379 2281.
