Earthquake update: Death toll reaches 157

KATHMANDU: The death toll in the Jajarkot earthquake has reached 157 and the number of injured is 197 as per information shared by the Armed Police Force, Nepal.

Deputy Superintendent of Armed Police Force, Nepal Shailendra Thapa said that the death toll reached 105 in Jajarkot and 52 in Rukum Paschim.

Likewise, 105 people were injured in Jajarkot district while 85 in Rukum Paschim and three each in Baitadi and Dailekh and one in Rolpa.

The injured are being taken to Nepalgunj, Kathmandu and other cities in the Nepal Army helicopters.

It is said that more than 1,500 security personnel have been deployed in the affected areas for the rescue and relief operations.

The earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale with its epicenter in Ramidanda of Barekot Rural Municipality-1 in Jajarkot occurred on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had reached the earthquake affected areas along with a medical team and relief materials this morning. He met the injured receiving treatment at different hospitals in Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim and enquired about their health condition.

Similarly, the government has already decided to provide Rs 50 million each to quake-hit Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim districts.

Prime Minister Dahal has called a cabinet meeting for Sunday morning to take further decisions for the relief to the quake survivors.