26 Dead in India Earthquake

Epicenter was near Nepal border; no immediate damage reported
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 18, 2011 8:32 AM CDT
Updated Sep 18, 2011 9:40 AM CDT
India Earthquake: 6.8 Shaker Hits Sikkim, Near Nepal Border
A USGS map shows the 6.8 earthquake, which hit near Sikkim, India.   (USGS)

A 6.8 earthquake shook northeastern India and Nepal today, killing at least 26 people, injuring scores and damaging buildings and sending lawmakers in Nepal's capital running into the streets, reports the BBC. The quake was felt across northeast India, including the capital of New Delhi. It triggered at least two aftershocks of magnitude 6.1 and 5.3, an Indian seismology official said. He warned that more aftershocks were possible.

The full extent of damage was not immediately known because the region is sparsely populated with many living in remote areas which were cut off by mudslides triggered by the quake, notes AP . TV stations reported buildings collapsed and sidewalks cracked in Sikkim's state capital of Gangtok, 42 miles (68 kilometers) southeast of the quake's epicenter. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police said two of its buildings had collapsed in Gangtok. (More India stories.)

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