Five killed as earthquake hits Nepal

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At least five people were killed, three of them outside the British Embassy here, when a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake jolted Nepal on Sunday, sparking panic among residents.

Three people were killed when a high brick wall of the British Embassy at Lainchaur collapsed due to earthquake, police said. A man and his daughter and another pedestrian died after the wall of the Embassy collapsed on them.

Those killed have been identified as Sajan Shrestha, 36, and his eight-year-old daughter Anisha and Bir Bahadur Majhi, according to police inspector Dan Bahadur Thapa, chief of Metropolitan Police Range, Sohrakhutte.

Another person, who sustained injury in the incident, has been taken to the Teaching Hospital here.

Two persons were killed in Dharan, which is close to the epicenter of the quake along the eastern Nepal-India border.

20-year-old Santosh Pariyar and his six-year-old son Kamal died when the wall of their house collapsed, local police said.

The Indian Embassy premises which is adjoining to the British Embassy compound did not suffer any damage, according to a mission spokesperson. Several people were hurt as they panicked and ran out of their homes, offices and marketplaces to the streets and open spaces fearing the worse, myrepublica online reported.

The panic-stricken people jumped off their houses, hotels and shopping buildings.

The earthquake was also felt in various parts of Terai region including Sarlahi, Bara, Birgunj and Paras. No casualties have been reported in those districts, the report said.