The death toll in Bihar due to yesterday’s 7.9 magnitude earthquake mounted to 51 today amid reports of widespread damage to property and crops from various parts of the state.

At least 173 persons were also injured in the massive temblor, according to a report by the Disaster Management Department control room.

A fresh tremor measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hit the state today.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a meeting with officials of different departments engaged in relief work and directed them to launch co-ordinated exercise to provide succour to the people affected.

Later, he presided over a meeting of the departmental secretaries where he directed all of them to camp in the districts under their charge to carry out relief works in quake-affected districts.

Kumar also directed all his ministers to camp in the districts under their charge to supervise relief works.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad today asked the Centre to declare the earthquake a national calamity, expressing concern at large-scale devastation.

Prasad asked the Centre to provide ex-gratia payment of Rs 20 lakh to the kins of all those killed in earthquake and in Bihar’s case he urged the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to provide a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kins of each victim.

Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ramvilas Paswan visited Katihar and Purnia districts and met affected people.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh too went to Motihari where he met the quake-affected families.

He also visited government hospital to inspect medical facilities being provided to the injured people.

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