Updated 8:07pm — A magnitude 7.3 earthquake has hit 82 km east of Kathmandu, reports the US Geological Survey.

The quake happened at 7.05 pm NZT.

The USGS said the quake hit in an isolated conservation area near the border with China just after lunch, local time.

It was followed 12 minutes later by a magnitude 5.6 aftershock in the same area, with another 6.3 shake hitting 20 minutes later.

The shakes comes after an earthquake on April 25 killed more than 8150 people and injured more than 17,860 as it flattened mountain villages and destroyed buildings.

Today’s quake was deeper, however, coming from a depth of 18.5 kilometres, while the April 25th quake that hit 15 kilometres.

More shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage at the surface.

In the capital of Kathmandu, the quake sent Nepalese people rushing outside of their homes into the streets. Police gave no immediate estimates of damage.

Strong shaking was also felt across northern India. In the Indian capital of New Delhi, people scrambled outdoors while buildings swayed.

– NZHerald.co.nz for more details