Nepal quake toll at 4000, fresh tremors felt in parts of WB, Bihar

The latest aftershock was even felt in parts of West Bengal and Bihar too. 

 

More than 70 people have died in India in Saturday's quake with  51 in Bihar, 12 in Uttar Pradesh and two in West Bengal, said reports.

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday donated one month's salary to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, for assistance to those affected by the recent earthquake. 

 

Modi called another high-level review meeting on Nepal earthquake at 8 PM on Monday.

 

Meanwhile, about 7100 people were injured in Nepal earthquake.

 

Thousands of people are still camped outside in Nepal's capital Kathmandu, huddled under makeshift tents. Food, water and fuel are running scarce.

 

About 18 people were confirmed dead in an avalanche that swept through the Mount Everest base camp following the 7.9 magnitude tremor.

 

China also reported that 20 people had died in Tibet.

 

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has written to Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala expressing grief over the earthquake.

 

Officials in Nepal said there have been nearly 100 earthquakes and aftershocks, which is making rescue work difficult. "Even the rescuers are scared and running because of them," media reports quoted them as saying.

 

At 4:02:35 hrs IST, another 'slight' tremor,measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale, has hit Nepal, the India Meteorological Department website said.

 

Stepping up efforts to help Nepal which was struck by severe earthquakes, the Indian Air Force on Monday stated that it has been providing relief to the people in  distress in Nepal.  

 

"5 tonnes of milk, light vehicles, RO Plant, Oxygen regenerators, Medicines, Blankets, tents, 14 tonnes of food (ITC Noodles).  03 National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams, 02 Field Hospitals, 02 Air Force Communication Centre Vehicles and Medicine are being sent," the IAF said in a statement.

 

"Today,  04 C-17 Globemaster III, 03 C-130J Super Hercules, 03 IL-76 and 02 AN-32 aircraft were pressed into action from morning to night carrying relief material.

Extensive helicopter operations have also commenced.  A total of 87 casualties have been evacuated to a safer places and 3.5 tonnes of relief load have been air dropped in inaccessible places," it said.

 

A total of 2305 stranded persons have been evacuated from Kathmandu to India.

 

With weather improving in Nepal on Monday, the Indian Air Force(IAF) along with  Indian Army fanned out to remote areas while continuing with transporting essential items from various bases to Kathmandu and evacuating distressed persons to India.

 

The Indian embassy in Kathmandu earlier in the day said evacuation of Indians from the earthquake-hit country will continue on Monday.

 

"14 civilian flights-7 schleduled, 7 special to operate today from Kathmandu to Delhi @MEAIndia #nepalearthquake," the embassy tweeted.

 

"Buses from Pokhra to Raxaul and Kathmandu to Gorakhpur will also evacuate Indian citizens @meaindia #nepalearthquake," it said.

 

Israel also joined the rescue operation in Nepal.

 

"The first batch of Israeli assessment teams, search and rescue experts, medical personnel and supplies arrived in Kathmandu to join international humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake. Amongst the Israelis arriving in Kathmandu were staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Delhi who will lead, with their counterpart in Nepal the overall coordination of Israeli rescue operations. The building of the Israeli embassy in Kathmandu sustained some damage and embassy staff were operating a situation room from the yard," an official statement said..

 

"Later today more Israeli planes, carrying more than 70 tons of much needed emergency supplies,  are expected to arrive in Katmandu to set up a field hospital to help treat those injured in the quake and to join rescue teams to help search through the rubble for survivors," it added.

 

Israeli government and missions in Kathmandu and Delhi, are also working with authorities in Nepal and India to locate and rescue Israelis who were affected by the earthquake in Nepal. At this time there are some 200 Israelis in the Chabad House and the Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu and some 100 Israelis in remotes areas.

 

Saluting the resilience of the people of Nepal and India at the hours of disaster, Modi earlier in the day 'thanked' all those who stood beside the  earthquake victims. 

 

"To all those saying #ThankYouPM- appreciate the sentiment…real thanks should be to our great culture, which teaches us 'Seva Parmo Dharma'.If we want to thank anyone, it should be the 125 crore people of India who have made Nepal's pain their own & extended all help."

 

He said: "We must thank our armed forces, NDRF teams, doctors & all those volunteers who are overcoming every obstacle to restore normalcy in Nepal.We owe a big thanks to the enthusiastic youngsters who are mobilising contributions for relief work be it cash, resources & medicines etc," he said.

 

Thanking the state government for their cooperation, Modi said: "The immense co-operation between Centre & the States is a major asset in times like these. A big thanks to all State Governments."

 

"And above all, we salute the resilience of our sisters & brothers in Nepal & parts of India, for their courage in the face of disaster," he said.