Earthquake hits India, 20 killed

A severe earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale rocked Sikkim on Sunday evening resulting in at least 20 deaths and injuries to several others. The epicentre of the quake was Mangan, 64 km from Gangtok in Sikkim, causing major damages in the area. The area of Mangan was said to be the worst hit, CNN-IBN reported.

Seven people have been killed in Sikkim and five people are reported dead in Nepal. Two persons were reportedly killed in Nalanda and Darbhanga districts of Bihar, out of which one died in a stampede following the tremors. Four persons were also reported dead in Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Siliguri in West Bengal. Two Army personnel were also killed in the earthquake. Officials say that at least 33 people are reported to have been injured.

The earthquake struck on Sunday at 6:10 PM and tremors were felt in many parts of Bihar including the state capital, Patna, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh also. Mild tremors were also felt in Delhi and other parts of North India.

Three aftershocks have been recorded so far, out of which, two were major, measuring 6.1 and 5.3 on the Richter Scale and were felt 20 minutes after the earthquake.