- Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Kathmandu, Nov 4: As the 6.4-magnitude earthquake rattled the districts of Karnali Province on Friday midnight, the people there were in the deep sleep in bed. Though the quake are realized across the country and even in the neighbouring India, the districts of Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim suffered the most. As per the information shared by the security bodies, a total of 157 people succumbed to the quake and the number of injured ones crossed 200 from the earthquake happened with its epicenter at Barekot in Jajarkot. However, the number of causalities could increase further since the search and rescue operation is ongoing.
Most of the traditional houses in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim districts have collapsed due to the powerful earthquake and its aftershocks. The local levels’ chiefs from the two districts have shared that the villages have witnessed severe damages and a huge number of population is rendered homeless and their houses are unlivable while hundreds of other houses are at high risk and could collapse at any time.
Pictures from the epicenter and nearby areas shared in the social networking sites show that people are living under the open sky as they lost their houses. In the meantime, the rescue operations are ongoing and more than 1,500 security officials are deployed while humanitarian organizations including Nepal Red Cross Society have also intensified their move.
The local governments in the two worst-hit district carried out the first phase of rescue operations in a more systematic fashion immediately after the quake happened. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ took special notice of the search and rescue operations, and had asked the security officials and all stakeholders to act in a smart fashion.
Prime Minister ‘Prachanda, who had taken stock of the earthquake-affected areas since 1:00 am on Saturday, visited Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim with health workers and essential supplies early on Saturday.On Saturday, the PM remained engaged on the search, rescue and coordination affairs for almost 18 hours, even by reaching the quake’s epicenter in the early morning.
Prime Minister Prachanda accompanied by Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet, former Finance Minister Janardan Sharma and Karnali Province Assembly Member Rajib Bikram Shahi reached the affected areas with a medical team including 16 members of the Nepali Army and necessary materials for the rescue, search and relief of the earthquake survivors.
The PM also brought some injured ones to Chaurjahari from Jajarkot in a chopper he was flying by. PM Dahal reached rural municipality-level hospital, Chhotebagar, District Hospital, Salle, and Aathbiskot Municipal Hospital and enquired about the health condition of the injured people.
Saying Rukum Paschim and Jajarkot districts saw a huge disaster, PM Dahal urged them not to panic much. “We are sad with the loss caused by earthquake. The government will bring rescue and relief materials and other different programmes for you (quake survivors),” mentioned PM Dahal.
During his inspection and visits to the injured ones, the PM has assured of their rehabilitation and relief adding that the ‘government is with them in the time of crisis’.The government has deployed several teams of health workers including specialist doctors to the earthquake-affected districts. The teams consist of specialists from Nepal Military Hospital, Nepal Police Hospital, Armed Police Hospital and Bir Hospital. The medical team will add to the human resources at the district hospitals with arrangements to carry out surgeries.
In this context, Mayor of Bheri Municipality Chandra Prakash Gharti said PM’s inspection has supported in their attempts to heal the wounds. “We are hopeful of a huge support from the federal government,” Gharti hoped.
“PM Prachanda’s move is highly appreciated in regard to the search and rescue jobs. He has shown a very sensitive gestures and has encouraged the rescuers, medical persons and volunteers. We need to support the PM in his actions,” Maoist Centre leader Santosh Poudel told the RSS appreciating the PM’s prompt actions.
Now, the government should announce the relief package and immediately prepare for the reconstruction of the quake-hit properties including the heritage sites there, Poudel suggested. To further accelerate the ongoing relief and rescue operations, the PM has summoned a cabinet meeting for Sunday morning.
The cabinet meeting is expected to announce government’s key priorities on rescue of those affected, treatment of the injured and resettlement of the displaced communities. Moreover, as the geography in Karnali is very uneven and with scattered settlements, the government should better unveil a long-term plan for the integrated settlement of the affected communities in both the districts. Such announcement in place shall help recover the community soon by contributing to build back the economy there.
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Earthquake Update: Death toll reaches 157; 197 others hurt
Kathmandu, Nov 4: The death toll in the Jajarkot earthquake reached 157 and the number of injured ones is 197 as per information shared by the Armed Police Force, Nepal.
Deputy Superintendent of Armed Police Force, Nepal Shailendra Thapa said that the number of death toll reached 105 in Jajarkot and 52 in Rukum Paschim. Likewise, a total of 105 people are injured in Jajarkot district while 85 in Rukum Paschim and three each in Baitadi and Dailekh and one in Rolpa.
The injured ones are being taken to Nepalgunj, Kathmandu and other cities in the Nepal Army helicopters. It is said that more than 1,500 security personnel have been deployed in the affected areas for the rescue and relief operations.
The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale with its epicenter in Ramidanda of Barekot Rural Municipality-1 in Jajarkot had happened on Friday night. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ reached the earthquake affected areas along with medical team and relief materials this morning. He met the injured ones receiving treatment at different hospitals in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim and enquired about their health condition.
Similarly, the government has already decided to provide Rs 50 million each to quake-hit Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim districts. Prime Minister Dahal has called a cabinet meeting for Sunday morning to take further decisions for the relief to the quake survivors.
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US govt. stands ready to assist Nepal, Embassy says
Kathmandu, Nov 4: The Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu has said it is deeply saddened to learn of the lives lost in the earthquake happened in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim districts last night.
The Embassy said ‘the US stands ready to assist as Nepal recovers from this terrible earthquake’. The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale with its epicenter in Ramidanda of Barekot Rural Municipality-1 in Jajarkot had happened at 11:47 on Friday night.
So far, a total of 157 people lost their lives while the number of injured ones crossed 200.
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China to provide assistance materials worth Rs 100m
Kathmandu, Nov 4: The Government of China announced to provide materials worth Rs 100 million to the earthquake-stricken areas, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song wrote in Twitter today.
As the first emergency response, the assistance materials include tents and blankets from China South Asian Countries Emergency Supplies Reserve, the Ambassador stated. All these materials will arrive in couple of days, it is said.
The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale with its epicenter in Ramidanda of Barekot Rural Municipality-1 in Jajarkot had happened at 11:47 on Friday night. So far, a total of 157 people from Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim lost their lives while the number of injured ones crossed 200.
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‘Government committed for effective earthquake response’
Kathmandu, Nov 4: The government has expressed its commitment to ensure immediate rescue, treatment, relief and rehabilitation to the earthquake survivors.
Issuing a press statement today, spokesperson of the government, Rekha Sharma said Prime Minster Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ himself has already taken proactive initiative for rescue, treatment and relief after reaching the affected areas. Sharma, also the Minster for Communications and Information Technology, made the commitment not to leave any stone unturned in connection with the rescue, treatment, relief and rehabilitation of the earthquake survivors from the information and communications sector.
Recalling that it is the shared responsibility of all to impart accurate and fact information through mass media and social media at the time of crisis, Minister Sharma extended gratefulness to all media workers reporting the natural disaster risking their lives.
The earthquake that occurred on Friday night with its epicenter at Barekot rural municipality-1, Ramidanda in Jajarkot has caused huge loss of life and property, stated the press release. Paying heartfelt tribute to the deceased in the tragic moment, she extended deep condolence to the bereaved families.
The government spokesperson also wished for speedy recovery of the injured. Minster Sharma also expressed grief over the earthquake-triggered damage to some of the media. The ministry has directed its subordinate agencies to deliver service in a routine and patient manner, impart authentic and truthful information and also support in the rescue, treatment and relief operations in the critical time.
Likewise, the Ministry has appealed to the private sector service providers to bear the social responsibility and extend possible support from their end. Minster Sharma informed that the Nepal Telecommunications Authority in consultation with service providers has reviewed the effects of telecom service due to the earthquake. Minister Sharma further shared that no telecom service has been disrupted in the earthquake-affected areas.
The Ministry has directed the service providers to stay stand-by for service delivery being cautious of possible aftershocks, reads the press release. Likewise, the Ministry has taken necessary decisions to further activate emergency telecommunications call center to further ease the delivery of telecom services in the earthquake-ravaged sites.
The state-owned Nepal Telecom Limited has offered free phone call, message and data service for five days at the request of the Ministry with a view to supporting the service delivery to the survivors, rescue workers and general public in the affected areas.
Ncell, the private sector telecom service provider, has also contributed Rs 5 million in the relief fund and offered free call and data amounting up to Rs 4 million.
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Minister Sharma urges media persons to understand sensitivity of information during disasters
Kathmandu, Nov 4: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma today urged media persons to understand the importance and sensitivity of the information dissemination during the time of disasters.
At a meeting of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) under the Ministry, the minister asked media persons to be sensitive in disseminating earthquake news and information. She directed the state-owned media, Rastriya Samachar Samiti, Gorkhapatra Corporation, Radio Nepal and Nepal Television to fulfil their special roles and responsibilities during natural disasters.
“In fact, you all understand the importance of information. But news disseminated during disasters help reduce the possible loss of lives and properties, and false news adds woes of the victims and affects rescue efforts. So, there should be sensitivity in disseminating news during disasters,” she said.
Saying the dissemination of true and accurate news makes it easier for the security personnel, rescue workers and the government mechanisms deployed for rescue efforts, the minister urged the transmission of news that would help victims and rescue workers.
As the people have to adopt high alert measures until 72 hours after the earthquake, she directed media to continue their service to help make people aware and alert. Media should disseminate truthful and correct news so as to end havoc of misleading information (if any) on social media, she said.
The government spokesperson directed the Nepal Telecom to prevent disruption of communications in Jajarkot and Rukum West, deploy a technical team to immediately resolve any network problems, and provide free and robust communication systems until the earthquake rescue operations.
Similarly, she instructed the concerned sector to work in coordination to prevent disruption of electricity in the affected districts. Since rescue efforts were underway, she urged all government bodies to take initiatives on their own to facilitate mobilisation of agencies and individuals for relief distribution. The meeting was attended by chiefs and representatives of the departments and offices under the ministry.
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UML to cooperate with government to support quake survivors
Birgunj, Nov 4: CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said that his party was ready to cooperate with the government in the rescue and search operations of the earthquake hit communities in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim. Oli also sought prompt response of the government to provide relief to the earthquake survivors.
Addressing the swearing in ceremony of newly-elected Madhesh Province Committee of the UML in Birgunj on Saturday, Oli urged the government to focus on rescue and relief operation and treatment of the affected ones.
“We are ready to support the government for the search and rescue works,” Oli said and also urged the social organizations to unite in the rescue and relief distribution. On the occasion, he instructed the party cadres to work for the cause of the country and people, and discharge their duty honestly.
UML leaders Yogesh Bhattarai and Raghubir Mahaseth also expressed their opinions at the programme.
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Indian PM Modi expresses sorrow
Kathmandu, Nov 4 : Indian Prime Minister Narednra Modi said India stands in solidarity with the government and people of Nepal while expressing deep sorrow at the loss of lives and damages in Nepal due to the earthquake in Jajarkot.
Addressing Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on a social media, PM Modi said India is ready to extend all possible assistance to the Nepal government. While extending condolence to the families of those deceased in the earthquake, PM Modi wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
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42 killed, 100 injured in Rukum West alone
Tribeni (Rukum West), Nov 4 : The first round of earthquake rescue efforts has been completed at Aathbiskot Municipality in Rukum West.
At least 42 were killed and 100 others injured in the quake occurred n the district on Friday night, said Inspector Dharmendra Khadka, also the information officer at the Rukum West Police. The deceased’s families received the bodies, he said. The injured are receiving treatment at the district hospital, Salle, the municipal hospital, Radi and the provincial hospital, Surkhet, said the police.
The search and rescue efforts have been completed, and a team of the municipality police and Nepal Police are on standby in case of further need, said Maniraj Shah, acting chief administrative officer of the municipality. The municipality-11, 12, 13 and 14 have suffered a huge loss of lives and properties loss in the quake, he said.
Ten people were killed and 59 others injured in Sanibheri Rural Municipality in the earthquake, said the district police office.
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Russian President expresses condolence
Kathmandu, Nov 4 : Russian President Vladmir Putin has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and properties due to the Jajarkot earthquake in Nepal.
In a condolence message sent to his Nepali counterpart, President Ramchandra Paudel, he extended deep condolence to the earthquake victims in Nepal, the President Office informed.
In the message, President Putin conveyed his sympathy to the Nepali people and wished for a speedy recovery of the injured.
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FAN announces to donate for quake victims
Godabari (Lalitpur), Nov 4 : The Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN) has announced donating 50 percent of the money collected from the sale of tickets of Godabari fair in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur on coming Sunday to the earthquake victims of Jajarkot and Rukum West.
“We inform that the 16th Godabari flower exhibition underway in Jawalakhel playground of Lalitpur will be extended by one day till November 5. We also inform that the fund collected from the ticket sale on Sunday will be deposited in the fund of the Government of Nepal for the assistance and rescue of quake victims of Jajarkot and Rukum West,” according to a statement issued by the Association on Saturday.
At least 31,000 people so far visited the fair as of Friday, the fourth day of the fair, and transactions amounted to over Rs 7 million, the FAN sources informed.
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