Officials said that the toll is likely to rise as the remote areas near the epicentre in Jajarkot have not been contacted.
At least 140 people were killed as an earthquake struck the western area of Nepal’s Jajarkot district on Friday night, The Indian Express reported citing Nepalese Prime Minister’s secretariat.
The quake was also felt across northern India, resulting in residents running outside for safety.
Nepal’s National Seismological Centre said the quake had a magnitude of 6.4 but the German Research Centre for Geosciences downgraded it to 5.7 magnitude, reported Reuters. The United States Geological Survey pegged it at 5.6 magnitude.
India’s National Seismological Centre said that the 6.4 magnitude quake was too shallow, originating about 10 km below the earth’s surface. Shallower earthquakes tend to be more destructive.
Aftershocks were also reported from the region.
The earthquake caused massive destruction, with several buildings collapsing. Officials said the toll can likely rise as they have not been able to contact those near the epicentre in Jajarkot, a hilly district with a population of 1.
