Mild tremors hit Kathmandu, surrounding areas

Kathmandu, May 21: Three mild tremors today struck Kathmandu and surrounding areas, keeping people on the edge in Nepal, battered by the April 25 earthquake and aftershocks that killed nearly 9,000 people.

A tremor measuring 4 on the Richter Scale hit the city and its surrounding areas at 7.30 pm with the epicentre at Dhading district, according to the National Seismological Centre. Two other mild earthquakes measuring 4. 2 and 4 on the Richter Scale were recorded in afternoon at 2.11 pm and 2.56 pm.

The epicentre of these two tremors were Dolakha and Nuwakot districts. No casualties were reported. Over 250 aftershocks of over 4 magnitude were recorded since the April 25 earthquake of . Powerful earthquakes on April 25 and May 12 killed at least 8,622 people and damaged 756,000 houses and other buildings.

Nepal has announced a USD 2 billion earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation fund, with the government contributing USD 200 million and seeking the remainder from donor agencies and nations. The government plans to hold an international conference next month to seek financial support.

PTI