By Asim Khan and Soumitra Nandi (Kolkata)
Mumbai: At least 479 people died in an earthquake of 7.5 on Richter scale that has shaken Nepal and India’s north and north-east region. Widespread damage is being reported from Nepal. Earthquake occurred today at 11.41 am between latitude 28.1 North and Longitude 84.6 East. The epicenter was located in Nepal, an IMD statement said.

At least 23 persons were killed and 48 injured in roof and wall collapse in Bihar. Three people were killed in North Bengal with parts of West Bengal including Kolkata.

"The tremors of the earthquake which had its epicenter in Nepal region was felt here in the city and other parts of the Eastern region. The magnitude of the earthquake on the Richter Scale is 7.9. We are still waiting for more details," DK Das, a senior official of Kolkata Meteorological department said.

The state chief minister Mamata Banerejee told reporters” Our disaster management team have already started their journey to North Bengal to keep a track on the situation. A number of houses including some important buildings in North Bengal have been damaged and the extent of damage has been huge. There are reports that three people have been killed and 30 more hospitalized”.

“I will myself set out for North Bengal on Sunday. The government will pay compensation to the family of the deceased and also to those of the injured” said Banerjee. 

Hundreds of people ran out of their homes and offices and assembled on the streets. The tremors were felt in various parts of the city especially in Lake Town, Salt Lake, Dalhousie and Park street area. Two old houses collapsed at Amhesrst Street area in Central Kolkata as panis spread throughout the state. 

Tremor was also experienced in Purulia, Bankura, Burdwan, East Midnapore and Nadia district of Bengal.

The quake has affected Mobile phone services across Nepal. In India’s capital Delhi, the Metro train services were briefly suspended after the quake. 

In India, tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim. As per the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the quake was Lamjung in Nepal.

The damage is still being reported and there are chances of more casualties.