Environment: Earthquake Rocks India And Nepal

A strong earthquake shook northeastern India and Nepal on Sunday evening, touching off landslides, wrecking buildings and sending people fleeing into the streets of Katmandu, the Nepalese capital, and other cities. Initial reports indicated that at least 16 people were killed, including 3 outside the British Embassy in Katmandu, where a wall collapsed.

The earthquake, measured initially at a magnitude of 6.9, struck at 6:10 p.m. in a remote part of the Himalayas at the eastern end of Nepal. It was felt across northern and eastern India, including in New Delhi, the capital, more than 700 miles to the west.

The quake was followed by two strong aftershocks of magnitude 6.1 and 5.3, according to R. S. Dattatreyan of the Indian seismology office.

The Holy Quran says: "There befalls not any calamity either in the earth or in your own persons, but it is recorded in a Book before we bring it into being — surely, that is easy for God" [57:23, Holy Quran]

In Sikkim, the Indian state nearest the epicenter, at least five people died and more than 50 were injured, said Karma Gyatso, the state’s chief secretary. Four more deaths were reported in neighboring West Bengal State and two in Bihar State, with one of the victims killed in what apparently was a stampede of panicked people. In Nepal, the government reported at least five deaths in all, along with dozens of injuries.

The full extent of the damage could not be immediately gauged because the region is sparsely populated and many people live in remote areas.

Television stations reported buckled buildings and cracked pavement and said that two major roads had collapsed in Gangtok, the Sikkim capital, about 42 miles southeast of the epicenter.

The Holy Quran: "Therefore remember me, and I will remember you; and be thankful to me and do not be ungrateful to Me." [2:153, Holy Quran]

We must all pray for the suffering, their families, their children and their nation. We pray that God allows them to rebuild their homes, villages, cities and lives with alacrity. You are in our prayers and our hearts.


The Ahmadiyya Post, Environment. By Zubair Ahmed. Sept 19, 2011