Nepal Quake : Death Toll Crosses 1800, Over 5000 Injured

26 April, Kathmandu
The death toll due to the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal Saturday has crossed 1,800.

Nepal’s Home Ministry official today said, around 5,000 people have been injured in the country’s worst quake in 80 years. One Indian is among those killed there.

Another official said that the actual casualty figure would probably be much higher as many more people are still trapped under rubble. Local television pictures showed rescuers in Kathmandu desperately digging through the rubble with their bare hands in search of survivors. Many historic buildings in the capital were also destroyed. Little information has emerged from the epicentre, where extensive damage has been reported.

The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. It has also urged countries to send aid to help it cope with the aftermath.

The 7.9 magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre at Lamjung, about 80 Kms northwest of Kathmandu, has claimed 55 lives in India, so far. While 38 people were killed in Bihar, 14 deaths were reported in Uttar Pradesh and three in West Bengal.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself monitoring the situation and issuing directives, massive rescue and relief operations have been initiated on a war footing.

The Prime Minister, who took stock of the situation at a high-level meeting in New Delhi, directed immediate dispatch of rescue and relief teams, including medical staff, to the affected areas.

Prime Minister also spoke to his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala. He assured all support and assistance. Modi said, 125 million Indians are with Nepal in this hour of grief.

President Pranab Mukherjee spoke to his Nepalese counterpart Ram Baran Yadav and enquired about the latest situation. Expressing deep shock over the damage, Mukherjee assured Yadav of fullest cooperation and all possible assistance to Nepal from India.