Tremor Of 4.9 Magnitude Shakes Nepal

By Yuba Nath Lamsal KATHMANDU, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- An earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale shook Nepal early morning, Monday. According to the National Seismological Centre (NSC), the tremor hit central Nepal shortly after dawn Monday with the epicentre in Gorkha, close to the epicentre of the April 25 earthquake. Its impact was felt significantly in Gorkha, Dhading and Kathmandu. Some people in Kathmandu and Gorkha moved out of their houses screaming when the tremor hit. However, no fresh damage has been reported so far. Lok Bijaya Adhikari of the NSC said it was the aftershock of the April 25 earthquake. Aftershocks have been felt daily in Nepal since the April 25 earthquake. Seismologist Adhikari said aftershocks would occur for some months after a big earthquake. More than 30,000 aftershocks have been recorded in the NSC since April 25, with 268 of over 4 magnitude alone. An earthquake of 7.9 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Nepal on April 25 which killed 9,012 people and damaged property worth US$6.99 billion. "Nepal is in a high seismological zone as the Himalayan range falls in the fault line between the Indian and Tibetan geological plates, which are pushing one another, causing friction," said Adhikari. -- BERNAMA