KATHMANDU: President Ramchandra Paudel has urged the government to speed up the works on rescue and relief to earthquake survivors and treatment of the injured ones.

Enquiring Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha about the loss of lives and physical property caused by the Jajarkot earthquake, President Paudel asked the government to immediately arrange rescue and relief operations and treatment for the injured ones, said President Paudel’s Press Advisor, Kiran Pokharel.

The President also reminded the government to ensure everything needed to cope with the disaster. Earlier, sharing that he was saddened by the loss of lives and physical property caused by an earthquake, the President appealed to the government, all political parties, people’s representatives, and commoners to engage in rescue and relief operations and treatment to the injured people with humanitarian sentiments during the crisis.

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

The number of fatalities has reached 137 and is counting.

The devastative tremor flattened numerous houses and structures in Jajarkot and its neighboring district, Rukum Paschim.

RSS