More than 120 dead in Nepal earthquake

 United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake - which struck east of Pokhara- measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the quake is located 35 km east of Lamjung district in Nepal.

Buildings, temples and towers collapsed and cracks appeared on the roads in Nepal where the devastation was yet to be measured. 

According to media reports, the Nepal Home Ministry puts the toll at more than 115  with 71 being killed alone in Kathmandu, the capital.

However, the figure may shot up as searches are on  for more bodies from under the rubble of collapsed structures. 

The historic Dharara Tower built in the 19th century in Kathmandu collapsed, trapping at least 50 people, Nepal media reported. 

The tower had been open to visitors for the last 10 years and had a viewing balcony on its eighth floor. Witnesses spoke of dead bodies being removed from the site.

Reports said the quake triggered avalanches on the Mount Everest and landslides in parts of Sikkim.

In India, the tremor reportedly killed 5 people in different parts of Bihar as it was strongly felt also in many other areas, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and the northeast.

"Seismicity in the Himalaya dominantly results from the continental collision of the India and Eurasia plates, which are converging at a relative rate of 40-50 mm/yr. Northward underthrusting of India beneath Eurasia generates numerous earthquakes and consequently makes this area one of the most seismically hazardous regions on Earth. The surface expression of the plate boundary is marked by the foothills of the north-south trending Sulaiman Range in the west, the Indo-Burmese Arc in the east and the east-west trending Himalaya Front in the north of India," USGS website said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "News has come in about an Earthquake in Nepal. Several parts of India also experienced tremors.We are in the process of finding more information and are working to reach out to those affected, both at home & in Nepal."

Modi has called an emergency meeting to work out agenda to reach out to the people of the affected areas.
 
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has called the earthquake as \'great\'. From Rajasthan to Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Northeast, people everywhere in northern to eastern India felt the tremors for nearly a minute. 

Mountaineer Alex Gavan tweeted from Mount Pumori, about 8 km west of Mount Everest, that the quake had caused an avalanche on Everest.

"Everest base camp huge earthquake then huge avalanche from pumori. Running for life from my tent. Unhurt. Many many people up the mountain," tweeted Gavan

Anita Saha, Associate Teaching Professor at Tribhuvan University in Nepal said, "We felt it in Nepalgunj. The tremors were quite strong.  I don\'t know about the damages caused in my city so far."

In Kolkata, buildings were shaking and many panic stricken people rushed outside.

Similar scenes were scene in Delhi and Patna and other parts of India.