Effects of the earthquake at Mangan, a town in North Sikkim in the Indian state of Sikkim

At least 65 people have been killed and over hundreds injured in a devastated earthquake triggered across the Himalaya region that affected Nepal, some part of India and Tibet, China.

According to the Times of India, a reputed English Indian daily, at least 50 people, including 23 in Sikkim of north eastern state of India, have been killed in a powerful earthquake on Sunday that triggered widespread landslides and road blockages making rescue work on Monday more difficult in the worst-hit Himalayan state.

Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported that at least seven persons have been killed and 22 others injured in Tibet in the quake which has caused landslides and has disrupted traffic, power and water supplies as well as telecommunication in Yadong County, an area 40 km away from Sikkim.

Many buildings in and around Gangtok have collapsed and around 85 percent of structures and houses have developed cracks due to the quake that hit Sikkim and other areas last evening, reports Times of India.

In Kathmandu, reports suggested that at least five people confirmed dead injuring scores across the country. This was the strongest quake to hit the country in 78 years. The epicentre was between Taplejung, eastern Nepal, and the Indian state of Sikkim, where 14 aftershocks of varying magnitudes were recorded in the wake, Chief of National Seismological Centre Som Nath Sapkota said.

Nepal’s Home Ministry said on Monday that 101 people were reportedly injured in the quake while out of the numbers 24 are in critical condition and have been treating at various hospitals. Likewise, 170 houses were completely destroyed and 143 houses were damaged.

The tremor lasted nearly a minute and it was felt in most parts of the country. Five deaths were reported in Kathmandu and Sunsari districts yesterday, while the figure on the casualty list and physical damage across the country was not immediately ascertained. The Home Ministry stated that at least 60 people in the Capital were injured in stampedes while jumping off buildings.

Three people died in the Capital after the compound wall of the British Embassy at Lainhchaur collapsed in the aftermath of the quake.