A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal in the early hours of Friday (February 28), rattling the Himalayan nation and sending tremors as far as northern India. The quake, which occurred at 2:51 a.m. local time, had its epicenter near the Kodari Highway in Sindhupalchok district, approximately 65 km east of the capital, Kathmandu, according to Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre.
The earthquake, registering 6.1 on the Richter scale, jolted residents awake, prompting many to rush out of their homes into the chilly pre-dawn streets. It shook many from sleep, who then rushed out of their homes. "People have now returned, and we’ve not received any reports of damage or injuries so far,” said Ganesh Nepali, a senior official in Sindhupalchok is reported to have said. The quake’s shallow depth of 10 km amplified its intensity, though initial assessments suggest no immediate casualties or significant structural damage.
Tremors were felt across the Kathmandu Valley and beyond, reaching cities in northern India, including Patna, Siliguri, and parts of Bihar and West Bengal. In Patna, residents reported buildings swaying and ceiling fans shaking for nearly 35 seconds, sparking panic but no reported harm. Social media posts captured the moment, with one user noting, “Felt a strong earthquake in Patna, Bihar. It was a good 35 seconds of shaking.”
Nepal, situated along the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, is no stranger to seismic activity. The Sindhupalchok district, close to the Himalayan range bordering Tibet, was also heavily impacted by the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015 that killed nearly 9,000 people. Friday’s quake, while less severe, rekindled fears among locals still haunted by memories of past disasters.
Authorities have mobilised police and emergency teams to assess rural areas near the epicenter, where mud-and-brick homes are particularly vulnerable. The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre recorded a smaller tremor of magnitude 4.2 in the same region shortly before the main shock, hinting at heightened seismic activity. Experts warn that aftershocks could follow, urging residents to remain vigilant.
In Kathmandu, the bustling capital, life resumed cautiously as dawn broke, with no major disruptions reported. However, the incident has reignited calls for stricter building codes and disaster preparedness in a country prone to such natural events. For now, Nepal breathes a sigh of relief, but the quake serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present risks lurking beneath its mountainous terrain.