Three mild aftershocks recorded in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Three mild aftershocks were felt within three hours in different areas in Nepal, two months after the deadly temblor jolted the Himalayan nation and claimed nearly 9,000 lives.

The three aftershocks were felt last night, according to the National Seismological Centre.

A 4.3-magnitude tremor was recorded at 9.07 pm with epicentre at Nuwakot district, about 30 km west of Kathmandu while another 4.1-magnitude aftershock was recorded at 11.49 pm with epicentre at Dolakha, situated northeast of the capital.

Merely two minutes later, at 11.51 pm, a third tremor measuring 4.2 on the Richter Scale was recorded with epicentre at Nuwakot-Sindhupalchowk.

With this, a total of 330 aftershocks with 4 or more magnitude have been so far recorded after the devastating earthquake that rocked Nepal on April 25.

Led by India and China, global donors yesterday pledged nearly USD 4.4 billion aid to quake-hit Nepal for the country's massive reconstruction efforts and to revive its economy. Fifty percent of the pledged assistance is grant and the remaining is soft loan.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who had flew in here, announced India's assistance of USD one billion - the largest.