A man was reportedly killed and two others were injured today as Uttar Pradesh was rocked by an earthquake, that had its epicentre in Nepal.
Mahesh (30) was killed in Maudaha area in Hamirpur district when the roof of a newly constructed platform of a cremation ground collapsed, a police spokesman said.
He said that two persons were injured in the incident and have been admitted to a hospital.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was also escorted by the security personnel during an official programme to launch schemes of the transport department.
The tremors were felt twice in the state, forcing people to rush out of their offices and apartments and affecting communication and transportation services.
The quake started at around 12.35 PM, continued for nearly 30 seconds and recurred again at 12.45 PM, the MeT office said.
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale shook West Bengal, Delhi and several other parts of north India today, less than three weeks after the region was struck by a devastating temblor.
"The quake measured 7.1 on Richter Scale with epicentre somewhere in Nepal," an IMD official said.
The fresh tremors prompted Lucknow District Magistrate to announce a holiday tomorrow.
