Kathmandu, Feb 28: A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Bhairavkund in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-2 at 2:51 am on Friday. The aftershock was felt in Kathmandu and surrounding districts, but overall damage was minimal.

Senior seismologist Dr. Lok Vijay Adhikari of the National Earthquake Measurement and Research Centre said the earthquake was massive yet not strong enough to cause heavy damage. Chief District Officer Kiran Thapa of Sindhupalchok reported that no casualties were recorded. There was a minor landslide and slight damage to a police station building. One prisoner broke his hand while jumping from the second floor of the district jail and is now receiving treatment. Information Officer Nirajan Shrestha from the District Police Office added that damage was minor and further details are being collected.

Nepal is known to be an earthquake-prone country due to its location in the Himalayan region. In recent years, the number of earthquakes has increased. For example, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Bajhang in the Far-Western Region, causing one death and injuring more than 30 people, along with significant structural damage. Other notable earthquakes include an 8.3 quake in eastern Nepal on January 20 and a 7.6 quake in Barpak, Gorkha, on May 30. Despite the risk, Dr. Adhikari noted that no major earthquake (above 8.0) has occurred in Nepal in the past 500 years.