The United States Geological Survey said the tremor was 6.7 magnitude, less than the 7.9 quake that struck the region on Saturday killing at least 1,900 people.

"Another one, we have an aftershock right now, oh shit," Indian mountaineer Arjun Vajpai told Reuters by telephone from advanced base camp on Mount Makalu, 20 km from Everest.

Screams and the sound of an avalanche could be heard over the phone line Mr. Vajpai was speaking on. At Everest base camp, Romanian climber Alex Gavan tweeted that the aftershock had set off three avalanches.

The USGS says the aftershock registered at a very shallow depth of 10 km and that damage was very likely within a radius of 50 km.

The ground rumbled as the tremor sent people yelling and running for open ground.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department in New Delhi, the epicentre of the fresh tremors also lay in Nepal.

“Fresh tremors were felt in Delhi and other parts of northern India at around 12.45 p.m.,” said G.L. Gautam, the IMD director.

“More aftershocks will follow... This will continue for weeks,” he said. “Northern India would not face much of a problem.”

The tremors were felt in Delhi, Gurgaon in Haryana, Noida and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, Jaipur and Kolkata, residents said.

The tremors lasted for nearly two minutes in the Indian capital.