Five Magnitude Tremor Jolts Kathmandu Early Monday

By Yuba Nath Lamsal KATHMANDU, May 25 (Bernama) -- An earthquake measuring five in the Richter scale jolted Kathmandu before dawn Monday sending panic wave to people. When the earthquake shook Kathmandu at 3.23 am local time, people screamed and ran out to the streets and open spaces for safely as they had already been terrified by the massive April 25 earthquake and its powerful aftershocks. According to National Seismology Centre (NSC) of Nepal, the earthquake measured five in the Richter scale with epicentre in Gorkha, 85 kms west of here. NSC said it was the aftershock of April 25 earthquake and asked people not to panic as aftershocks were normal after a great earthquake. “We have no report of fresh damage by Monday’s aftershock but the earlier damage is huge,” said Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, spokesperson of Nepal's home ministry. Meanwhile the government cancelled the scheduled Republic Day function slated for May 29 because of destruction caused by the earthquake. According to a statement issued bt the President’s Office, all the programmes including a Republic Day reception scheduled for May 29 had been cancelled for this year. “The tea reception will not be organised this year in the current situation of sorrow caused due to the April 25 devastating earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks,” the statement said. The president has been hosting reception every year on the occasion of the Republic Day since 2008 when Nepal was declared a republic. -- BERNAMA