Areas adjoining Nepal felt maximum intensity of quake: IMD

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director general L.S. Rathore on Tuesday said areas adjoining the epicentre of the earthquake that shook Nepal and parts of India have felt the maximum intensity of the earthquake, which include Gangtok, Northern Bihar, and north eastern Uttar Pradesh.

"The intensity of such an earthquake in its epicentre is estimated about 9 on the Richter scale. In India, though the shocks have been felt almost in the entire country, but the intensity is very high in the areas which are adjoining the epicentre, that includes Gangtok, Northern Bihar, and north eastern Uttar Pradesh where the intensity of the magnitude between 7 and 8 has been estimated," Rathore told ANI.

Rathore said today's earthquake was of 7.3 magnitude and the first tremor was recorded at 12:35 pm.

"The earthquake of magnitude 7.3 was registered at 12.35 pm, 60 kilometres east of Kathmandu, after the earthquake continuous aftershocks have been observed. An aftershock of 6.2 magnitude has been observed" he added.

Earlier in the day, Nepal was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, which was followed by a number of aftershocks, including one that measured 5.6 on the Richter scale. They occurred a fortnight after a quake had claimed over 7000 lives and devastated the Himalayan nation.