Eight killed as quake strikes Bihar

At least eight people, including three children, were killed and nearly two dozen people were injured when a massive earthquake caused walls to collapse in many parts of Bihar on Tuesday, officials said.

The 7.3-magnitude quake's epicentre was in Kodari, Nepal, and its effect was felt across India, including Bihar.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, however, told the media here that the state disaster management department confirmed only six deaths, but there was information on 15 deaths due to the earthquake.

"So far, six deaths have been confirmed, but there is information of 15 deaths. Officials have been asked to verify it," Nitish Kumar said.

A labourer was killed when an under-construction wall collapsed in Danapur near Patna, and a child died in Siwan district also in a wall collapse. Another child was seriously injured, officials of the state disaster management department said.

Two children were killed in Manigachi in Darbhanga district, and a woman was killed in Dumra in Sitamarhi district under similar circumstances.

One person each died in Hajipur in Vaishali district, Nawada and Saran districts due to the quake.

Over half a dozen girl students of a government middle school at Bihya in Bhojpur district were injured when they tried to rush out of their classroom.

"All of them were admitted to a primary health centre for treatment," a district official said.

In Forbesganj in Araria district, bordering Nepal, at least 12 people were injured in a stampede during the quake, while five were injured in West Champaran district.

People in Patna, Darbhanga, Purnea, Kishanganj, Madhubani, Jehanabad and Aurangabad said they felt the tremors for over a minute.

"People across Bihar felt the tremors. There is a possibility of more aftershocks in the next two days," Patna Met Office director A.K. Sen said.

According to disaster management department officials, there were reports of cracks in many houses in Jehanabad, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Gaya and Raxaul in East Champaran district.

Nitish Kumar has called a meeting of the disaster management department and directed officials to assess the damage.

The state has cancelled the leave of all government doctors.

Hundreds of thousands of people came out of their houses and offices across the state as soon as they felt the tremors.

In Patna, people rushed out of their houses and took shelter in open spaces.