Parts of Nepal jolted by earthquake

Parts of central Nepal was jolted by earthquake Monday, sending people rushing out of their homes and offices. The country's seismology department said the tremor measured five on the Richter scale and had an epicentre just 30 kilometres north of the capital Kathmandu. Officials said there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties by the tremor that hit Kathmandu city and surrounding areas in the late afternoon. People poured out of their homes and offices as the buildings were rattled by the earthquake. The seismology department said the quake lasted for a few seconds in Kathmandu Valley which lies on top of an earthquake belt. The last major earthquake to hit Nepal was in 1988 which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale and killed over 800 people. dpa kr ds