A 4.4 magnitude earthquake with an epicentre in Bajura district of Sudurpaschim province jolted far west Nepal on Monday.

According to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre, the earthquake occurred at 7:38am with its epicentre around Bichchhya in the district.

Bajura had recorded an earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale on May 22 while a 4.5 magnitude earthquake with an epicentre in Bajhang district was recorded the next day.

Earthquakes are common in Nepal which is situated on the ridge where the Tibetan and Indian tectonic plates meet and advance two meters closer to one another every century which results in pressure which is released in the form of earthquakes. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks killed around 9,000 people in 2015.

As the government’s post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) report noted, Nepal is the 11th most earthquake-prone country in the world.