An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck Nepal early on Friday, causing tremors felt across the Himalayan region. Tremors were also felt in Patna, Muzaffarpur and nearby areas of Bihar.
The earthquake struck around Bhairab Kunda of the Sindhupalchok district in Nepal at around 2.35 am, according to news agency Reuters.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences measured the earthquake at a magnitude of 5.6, while India's National Centre for Seismology estimated it at 5.5. However, it was not immediately clear whether multiple quakes had occurred.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake is considered strong and can cause significant damage, especially near the epicentre, including the shaking of buildings and the formation of cracks.
The extent of Friday's seismic activity is yet to be ascertained, and no reports of damage or casualties have been reported so far.
"It shook us from our sleep strongly. We rushed out of home. People have now returned back to homes. We have not received any report of damage or injuries so far," Ganesh Nepali, a senior Nepali official told Reuters.
People shared videos online showing buildings and ceiling fans shaking due to the earthquake in Patna. An X user mentioned that the tremors lasted for a "good 35 seconds".
"Felt a strong earthquake in Patna, Bihar. Everything was shaking but no visible damage so far," another user, Nikhil Singh, wrote.
In January this year, a series of six earthquakes struck Tibet’s Himalayan region, with the strongest measuring 7.1 magnitude, claiming over 125 lives.
Source: India Today