The death toll from the devastating 6.4 magnitude earthquake that jolted western Nepal just before Friday midnight has climbed 143 as of Saturday afternoon.

The death toll from the disaster is the highest since the 2015 earthquake that shook Nepal. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks killed around 9,000 people in 2015.

According to Nepal Police, 166 people were injured in the tremor that rattled Jajarkot and West Rukum districts in Karnali Province.

As of 3:30 pm on Saturday, 105 people died in the earthquake in Jajarkot, the epicentre of the quake, while 38 deaths have been reported in the adjoining district West Rukum. As many as 81 people in Jajarkot and 85 in West Rukum have sustained injuries.

The security chiefs of both districts said personnel from all three security bodies—Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force—have been mobilised for rescue and relief operations.

Nepal Army has used five helicopters and an aircraft for rescue operations and relief distribution in the quake-hit areas.

Brigadier General Krishna Prasad Bhandari, Nepal Army spokesperson, said 33 injured from Jajarkot and West Rukum districts were airlifted to Nepalgunj by Nepal Army helicopters.

A total of seven people injured in the quake have been airlifted to Kathmandu through a Nepal Airlines aircraft, according to Nepal Police.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal reached the quake-affected areas early morning with a team of doctors and relief materials.

The government has announced a financial package of Rs Rs100 million to facilitate the search and rescue missions in earthquake-hit Jajarkot and West Rukum districts.

Likewise, the government has sent a team of 41 health workers including specialist doctors to the earthquake-affected districts of Jajarkot and West Rukum.

The team consists of 16 personnel from Nepal Military Hospital, 11 from Nepal Police Hospital, eight from Armed Police Hospital and six doctors and nurses from Bir Hospital, according to the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Prakash Budhathoki. The medical team will add to the human resources at the district hospitals with arrangements to carry out surgeries.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the earthquake with an epicentre in Jajarkot district was recorded at 11:47pm on Friday. Strong jolts were felt in Kathmandu and in cities in neighbouring India, including New Delhi.