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Nepal earthquake: Death toll surges to 4,000; Indian Army intensifies rescue mission
Members of the Lower House has decided to donate a month's salary for the relief work in Nepal with a proposal by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu being quickly accepted by the Opposition.
Updated : Apr 28, 2015, 01:32 AM IST
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Crisis loomed over quake-hit Nepal on Monday following shortage of food, water, electricity and medicines as fear drove tens of thousands of people out into the open and the death toll soared to 4,000 amidst fears that it could touch 5,000.
Scrambling to put together massive rescue and relief efforts, the country hit by the worst quake in 80 years desperately sought international help to tide over the situation.
Rains and a powerful aftershock late night sent a fresh wave of panic on Monday after the Saturday's 7.9-magnitude quake had flattened thousands of homes and buildings, leaving about 7,000 injured and scores missing.
A well-known Telugu movie choreographer, 21-year-old Vijay, was killed in a road accident in rain and aftershock of the temblor in the early hours of today when his film unit was on its way to Kathmandu. Seven women from Assam were also feared killed in the quake on Saturday.
Latest Updates:
Prime Minister took stock of the rescue and relief efforts in quake-hit areas at home and in Nepal on Monday night, and pushed for streamlining the operations and greater coordination among the stake-holders.
The Prime Minister, according to a PMO statement, emphasized on ensuring proper coordination between the Centre and state governments both for ensuring smooth flow of relief operations in the affected states and to streamline the delivery of relief and rescue material to Nepal. He said all necessary medical help should be given to the injured, including treatment in India, if required.
The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Misra, Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra and senior officials of government, IMD, and NDRF.
Widening 'Operation Maitri', Indian Army on Monday moved its rescue mission outside Nepal's capital into the epicentre of the devastating earthquake at Barpak village in Gorkha district, while its engineers opened up the road to Kathmandu from India.
The opening up of the road from India to Kathmandu means that relief materials and equipment can now be moved by road instead of just the air in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal. As per priorities expressed by Nepal Army, a Task Force Headquarters has been established in Kathmandu under Major General J S Sandhu. Another Task Force has been set up at Barpak under Brigadier J Gamlin.
There are reports of fresh tremor in Kathmandu.
9:36PM. Another big tremor strikes Kathmandu now. Shaken souls, shaken a lot more. Again. Mood today, ppl thought it was finally passing.
— Kashish Das Shrestha (@kashishds) April 27, 2015
3 more #NDRF teams have landed today making it 13 teams there, 3 more are to go making it 16: Sandeep Rathore (IG, NDRF) #NepalEarthquake
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 27, 2015
All total 5,400 Indians have been saved
5 IAF aircrafts gone today, 4 more will fly by end of the day. Flight will take more NDRF teams: SJaishankar (Foreign Secy) #NepalEarthquake
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 27, 2015
Fresh tremor have created panic again among the citizens living in the affected regions.
Residents vacate buildings after fresh tremors were felt in Siliguri (WB). pic.twitter.com/JjiQSj79Bx
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 27, 2015
PM Narendra Modi has decided to give a month of his salary to PM relief fund for the helping quake victims.
Fresh aftershock felt in Bihar, West Bengal and North East India. The intensity of the earthquake was 5.1 on the Richter scale. According to USGS, the tremor originated 10 SW of Mirik, India, The regions that were hit by tremors are Madhupura, Madhubani, Patna, Katiyar, Saharsa in Bihar, Siliguri and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal and some parts of Assam.
Image courtesy USGS.gov
PM Modi is scheduled to hold a review meeting at 8 PM to take stock of the situation.
Pashupatinath Temple unharmed in Nepal's devastating earthquake
The famous 5th century Pashupatinath Temple has survived the massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake that flattened several World Heritages like iconic Dharhara tower and Darbar Square in Nepal.
"The Pashupatinath Temple is safe, we have checked the shrine many times and it has developed no cracks," a devotee at the temple said.
Seven tourists from Assam feared dead in Nepal: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Seven tourists from Assam are feared dead in the massive earthquake that struck Nepal, claiming more than 3600 lives so far.
"We have news that seven tourists from Assam have died. We are trying to get detailed information about the victims," Union Minister of State for Sports Sarbananda Sonowal said.
2,500 Indians evacuated from Nepal; Lok Sabha MPs to donate salary
Expanding its rescue efforts, government said in Lok Sabha that over 2500 Indians have been evacuated from quake-hit Nepal so far and free visas are being given to foreigners stranded there and want to come to India.
Members of the Lower House also decided to donate a month's salary for the relief work in Nepal with a proposal by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu being quickly accepted by the Opposition.
Responding to an impromptu debate on the devastating earthquake in Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the earthquake toll in India has reached 72 with 56 deaths reported in Bihar, 12 in UP, three in West Bengal and one in Rajasthan.
150 Indians reach Raxaul in Bihar from quake-hit Nepal
At least 150 Indians who reached Indian border at Raxaul from Nepal this morning were sent to their homes by different trains and 10 buses were dispatched to Pokhra in the neighbouring country by Bihar government for transporting back stranded citizens.
"The state government has facilitated journey of 150 people by trains to different locations who reached Raxaul by road from Nepal this morning," said Principal Secretary Disaster Management department Vyas Jee.
Don't pay heed to rumours on earthquake: Government asks people
As the death toll in Nepal's devastating earthquake mounted, government on Monday urged people not to pay heed to rumours being spread on social media as members in Rajya Sabha asked government to prepare disaster management plan.
Thanks should be to our great culture, which teaches us 'Seva Parmo Dharma': PM Modi
Taking to micro blogging site, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tweeted, "To all those saying #ThankYouPM- appreciate the sentiment…real thanks should be to our great culture, which teaches us 'Seva Parmo Dharma'."
Modi further added, "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. We must thank our armed forces, NDRF teams, doctors & all those volunteers who are overcoming every obstacle to restore normalcy in Nepal."
Praising media for the coverage, He said, "Mention must be made of the media. They are bravely covering the disaster from the ground. Thanks!"
To all those saying #ThankYouPM- appreciate the sentiment…real thanks should be to our great culture, which teaches us 'Seva Parmo Dharma'.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2015
India to do everything possible to help Nepal: Rajnath Singh
India will do everything possible to help Nepal, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said. "Nepal is our neighbour and we also have cultural relations with it. We have been making all possible efforts from our side.
"We had held a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and many decisions have been taken so that we can provide the maximum help to Nepal," he told reporters.
Over 100 Keralities trapped in Nepal
More than 100 Keralites, including tourists, are trapped in quake-hit Nepal, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here today.
In a Facebook post, he said state Minister K C Joseph has gone to Delhi to initiate steps to get the stranded persons back to Kerala.
"Cabinet Minister K C Joseph is in Delhi to coordinate the efforts of getting the affected persons back to Kerala', Chandy said.
The Chief Minister also congratulated the Indian Army for their rescue effort.
Estimated shaking intensity by district in Nepal in Saturday's 7.8-magnitude quake pic.twitter.com/U9VxFpbmEK
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) April 27, 2015
Earthquake: M 4.7 - 54km WSW of Kish, Iran
#IndiawithNepal 40 Member Army Engineer Task Force moved yesterday. Separate team to check Nepal's power grid pic.twitter.com/kp828aofMY
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 27, 2015
Relief Material
The Ministry of Defence on Monday assured the equipments sent to quake-hit Nepal that includes 58 tonnes of water, RO Plant, Oxygen Regenerators; medicines will improve communication for helicopter operations.
Ministry of Defence (MoD) official spokesperson Sitanshu Kar took to Twitter for sharing the information.
“#NepalEarthquake 6 medical teams, engineer task force components, blankets, tents and Other items being flown in to Nepal today. #NepalEarthquake One C-17 a/c of IAF carrying 58 tonnes of water leaves Palam and is about to land at Kathmandu,” Kar tweeted.
“#NepalEarthquake Also sent to Nepal this morning: RO Plant, Oxygen Regenerators, Medicines, 1000 blankets, 100 tents, 3 teams of NDRF, Field Hospital, Air Force Comm Centre vehicles,” he said in a series of tweets.
#IndiaWithNepal 22 tonnes of food packets, 120 large oxygen cylinders moved yesterday. More enroute today morning. pic.twitter.com/X8grPrm8Eo
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 27, 2015
#IndiaWithNepal 40 large tents, 1400 blankets, 50 tonnes of water moved yesterday. More enroute. #OperationMaitri pic.twitter.com/ibdYxS71JT
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) April 27, 2015
Donation for #NepalQuakeRelief
Here are how and where to donate updates for #NepalQuakeRelief - all donating please focus on specifics mentioned. pic.twitter.com/GylgY7Q0t4
— VOICE@InCrisisRelief (@InCrisisRelief) April 27, 2015
UNICEF says nearly a million children 'severely affected' in Nepal
Nearly a million children have been "severely affected" by a severe earthquake in Nepal that has killed more than 3,200 people, a spokesman for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said, as rescue and aid workers struggle to cope.
With hundreds of thousands of Nepalis sleeping out in tents or in the open, UNICEF said its relief workers were watching for waterborne and infectious diseases.
Watch: Hit by Avalanche in Everest Basecamp
Nepal earthquake: 291 evacuees land at Palam airport
The Ministry of Defence on Monday announced that an Indian Air Force (IAF) plane carrying 291 passengers rescued from earthquake struck Nepal landed at the Palam airport this morning.
"#NepalEarthquake One C-17 of IAF landed at Palam from Kathmandu with 291 passengers on board at 0630 this morning," official spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Sitanshu Kar, said on twitter.
According to AFP reports, death toll surged to 3,218
Four new aftershocks of intensity 4.2, 4.4, 4.6 and 4.2 rocked Nepal in last 12 hours. The situation is only becoming grim with rain already hampering relief work.
Since 25 April a total of 1935 Indians have been evacuated to India via IAF aircrafts. More flights are expected today.
Despite bad weather in Nepal, IAF continued its ops last night.
#NepalEarthquake Despite bad weather in Nepal, IAF continued its ops last night. pic.twitter.com/mUqju3JpQ2
— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) April 27, 2015
Three Americans died in a massive avalanche triggered by the devastating Nepal earthquake, the U.S. State Department said on Sunday, including a medic and a filmmaker who were at a base camp for Mount Everest climbers.
The medic, Marisa Eve Girawong, was a physician's assistant who worked for Madison Mountaineering, a Seattle-based guide service, according to Kurt Hunter, the company's co-founder and chief technology officer.
Girawong, who was from Edison, New Jersey, according to media reports, was among more than a dozen people who perished in the Mount Everest avalanche.
Tom Taplin, a 61-year-old filmmaker and photographer from Evergreen, Colorado, making a documentary about the Mount Everest base camp when the avalanche hit also died, his wife Cory Freyer said on Sunday in a telephone interview.
In both India and Nepal, many people are spending sleepless night in the open sky fearing aftershocks.
Siliguri (WB): Fear of aftershocks forced people to stay out of their homes #earthquake pic.twitter.com/lga7kzU3kK
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
Patna: Scared of aftershocks, people continue to stay out of their homes #earthquake pic.twitter.com/KLdVsiOpOj
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
Radio reports say one of the biggest problems is not having accessible latrines and tents. Hundreds are camped outside #Nepalquake
— Shiwani Neupane (@ShiwaniNeupane) April 26, 2015
It' raining in Kathmandu, Thousands of people are daring to take shelter outside their houses, roads and open spaces.
— Bhadra Sharma (@bhadrarukum) April 26, 2015
India launches Operation Maitri
Scaling up relief and rescue efforts in quake-hit Nepal that was named 'Operation Maitri', India on Sunday deployed two dozen military aircraft and choppers and was also undertaking a "big evacuation" through the road route.
As a top Indian official described the situation in the Himalayan nation as "very, very serious", nearly 1,000 trained personnel of the National Disaster Response Force(NDRF) were also pressed into service after Nepal was struck on Saturday by the worst earthquake in 80 years, killing over 460 people. A slew of steps were also taken for speedy evacuation of stranded tourists including goodwill visas to foreigners and mobilising buses and ambulances to bring them by road. Over 1,000 people have been flown from Nepal since Saturday.
An inter-ministerial team, headed by a top Home Ministry official, will also leave for Nepal soon to coordinate the rescue and relief efforts as part of 'Operation Maitri' or friendship. "I underline that rapid rescue and relief is our primary mission in Nepal. Situation in Nepal is very, very serious," Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said at a joint news conference. Home Secretary L C Goyal, Defence Secretary R K Mathur, chief of National Disaster Management Authority R K Jain and India Meteorological Department head L S Rathore were also present.
Giving details, Jaishankar said 546 Indian nationals were brought back on Saturday while 634 came in batches on Sunday. He said while the rescue team were trying to evacuate nationals of other countries, Indians were the obvious priority.
An aftershock of intensity 5.3 has just rocked Nepal and parts of India. People already living in fear have rushed out of their home. The situation is only becoming grim with rain already hampering relief work.
Image courtesy USGS. Check here for detailed information
Another batch of 113 Indians evacuated from Nepal arrive in Delhi by IAF C-17 Globemaster #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/TnOMBdth0O
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
China on Sunday announced a 20 million yuan (US $3.3 million) humanitarian aid to Nepal to deal with the massive earthquake that has killed over 2,350 people. The aid, including supplies of tents, blankets and generators, will be delivered to Nepal by chartered planes, the Ministry of Commerce said. China will offer further support according to Nepal's demands, it said.
(Reuters)
Some Indians have got back home to reunite with their families
Indians stranded in Nepal arrive in Kolkata #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/rN1eKNyrMO
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
Delhi: It was very tragic, lot of Nepali staff in our hotel was crying: Indian evacuated from Nepal #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/uci2KYaqZk
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
Delhi: Indians stranded in Nepal brought to Punjab Bhavan from airport pic.twitter.com/Ylej3gB3YZ
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
As predicted by the IMD department, it has started to rain in Nepal. Tweets emerging from Nepal paint an extremely grim picture.
8:15PM. Its raining in KTM now. Cold wind. Grid still out, #Solar lamps still on.
— Kashish Das Shrestha (@kashishds) April 26, 2015
Anothrr tremor, rain, no proper tents, electricity finally on, ppl scrambling to fill water tanks while thrre is power #NepalQuake
— Bisauti (@bidush) April 26, 2015
Rain has also affected rescue process.
Kathmandu: IAF operations on hold due to bad weather #NepalEarthquake
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
Total number of evacuated Indians stand at 1050
Number of evacuated Indians in six IAF flights reaches 1050. More flights expected tonight: MEA tweets
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that government has decided to send a high-level team to Nepal to oversee rescue operations. It will be an inter-ministerial team. He said that evacuation via roads will also start soon and for that purpose buses are being sent there. Jaishankar conceded that rain is hampering rescue work. Some choppers had to come back due to heavy rain.
All total 540 nationals have been rescued from earthquake ravaged Nepal.
Casualties in Bihar are reported at 46, 13 in UP, 2 in West Bengal and 1 in Rajasthan: LC Goel #earthquake pic.twitter.com/qD0hQdMU5v
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
The Indian under 14 Women football team has been rescued from Nepal. They have reached New Delhi.
Players of the 'India under 14 football team' arrive at Delhi Airport, were rescued from #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/GW8j5591UW
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
Earthquake hit&we got scared.We were crying: Soni Kumari (Player,India under 14 football team) on #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/EmG6npmCDQ
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
PM chaired a high-level meeting to oversee rescue operations.
Delhi: PM Modi chairs the review meeting at 7RCR (Source: PMO) #earthquake pic.twitter.com/AVVUuzZNoH
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
Siliguri (WB): CM Mamata Banerjee meets injured admitted in hospital #earthquake pic.twitter.com/7rEz8QEjNg
— ANI (@ANI_news) April 26, 2015
22 climbers dead in quake-triggered avalanche on Mt Everest
At least 22 climbers have died near the base camp of Mt Everest where hundreds of climbers, including many foreigners, are stranded after an avalanche triggered by Nepal's massive earthquake slammed into a part of the camp on the world's highest peak. More than 60 climbers were injured and hundreds of foreign adventurers, hikers and guides at the base camp were feared missing when the avalanche swept down the Everest and buried under snow a section of the mountaineering camp yesterday. While 17 people were killed at the base camp, five more casualties were reported today from areas below the base camp, Home Ministry officials said.
Fresh tremors shake various states, toll climbs to 57
Fresh tremors were today felt in various parts of India, including the national capital Delhi, even as the death toll in yesterday's temblor climbed to 57.
The fresh tremors, which had a magnitude of 6.9 on the Richter Scale and epicentred in Nepal, were experienced in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi for over 30 seconds at 12:42 PM. No casualties or damage to property have been reported in the fresh tremors.
Quake tremor: PM Narendra Modi calls for high-level meet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a high-level meeting at 3.30 p.m. today to review the situation, following fresh earthquake in Nepal, and to take stock of the relief work. The Prime Minister's Office took to twitter to share the news. "Today at 3:30 PM the Prime Minister has called a high level meeting to review the situation arising due to the Earthquake," the PMO tweeted.
"The review meeting called by the PM at 3:30pm will be looking at the relief work and other issues arising due to the Earthquake," it added.
Fresh tremors were felt across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam earlier in the day after an earthquake of 6.7 magnitude hit east of Kathmandu. Residents evacuated buildings and rushed out in the open after tremors hit the northern region.
Fresh tremors felt in Nepal and parts of India, triggers avalanche in Himalayas
Strong aftershock hit Nepal and parts of north India on Sunday, a day after the Himalayan nation was hit by an earthquake of magnitude of 7.9. It triggered another avalanche in the HImalayas.
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. Parts of north and east India too experienced the tremors. Experts have said that more aftershocks may follow for a few days, as TV channel reports. A total fo 35 aftershocks have hit the HImalayan region so far, report added.
17 climbers dead in quake-triggered avalanche on Mt Everest
At least 17 bodies have been recovered at the base camp on Mount Everest where hundreds of climbers, including many foreigners, are stranded after an avalanche triggered by Nepal's massive earthquake slammed into a part of the camp on the world's highest peak. More than 60 climbers were injured and hundreds of foreign adventurers, hikers and guides at the base camp were feared missing when the avalanche swept down the Everest and buried under snow a section of the mountaineering camp yesterday.
Twenty-two of the most seriously injured climbers were today ferried by helicopters, including from the Indian Air Force, to Pheriche village, the nearest medical facility, though bad weather is hampering rescue and relief operations. There were more than 100 climbers also at camps 1 and 2 on Mount Everest, above the base camp, and all are reported safe, Nepal Mountaineering Association officials said today, adding it will take time before these people can be evacuated.
Over 5,000 people were also injured in the earthquake and the dozen aftershocks that continued till today, with the strongest measuring 6.7 on the Richter Scale. Climbers on Mount Everest said they saw fresh series of avalanches and a big landslide in the base camp. International teams, including from India, have touched down quake-hit Nepal that has declared a state of emergency in the wake of the disaster caused, the worst in over 80 years of Nepal's recorded history. Rescuers have been hunting for survivors under heaps of debris with bare hands as well as heavy equipment though the efforts have been hampered due to fresh tremors and thunderstorms.
Locals and tourists sifted through mounds of debris for survivors. Cheers rose when people were found alive, thought mostly bodies were pulled out. The earthquake and the aftershocks left behind a trail of death and destruction, flattening houses and buildings, including the iconic Dharhara tower and the landmark Darbar Square in the heart of the capital, trapping scores of people. Thousands of people spent last night in the open in chilly weather, anticipating more aftershocks.
1,053 people are reported killed in the Kathmandu Valley alone. Officials fear the death toll could rise as desperate search for survivors continued.
According to initial reports related to today's aftershock, a tunnel caved in at the Trishuli Hydel Project and around 60 labourers are feared trapped. MI-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have carried out five casualty evacuation sorties and the injured have been moved to military hospitals.
As many as 17 Mount Everest climbers, including foreigners, were reportedly killed in an avalanche triggered by the earthquake.
India is with Nepal in this hour of crisis. We will do all we can to help Nepal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during the Mann Ki Baat show.
Hospitals in Nepal struggling to attend to injured quake survivors
Hospitals in Nepal are reported to be struggling to cope with providing treatment to survivors of Saturday's earthquake, which has claimed the lives of over 1900 people and injured another 4700.
The earthquake, said to be the worst in 81 years, has left a trail of devastation and shocked citizens and hospital authorities have confirmed that they are struggling to receive or give timely treatment. Reports said that medical supplies are short and patients with serious injuries are dying.
Three more NDRF teams to be sent to Nepal
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General OP Singh on Sunday said that three more teams would be sent to Nepal in wake of the massive earthquake which has claimed over 1800 lives in the country till now. "We have already sent seven teams to Nepal and three more will be sent. Our first priority is to evacuate and rescue people buried under debris in Nepal. We have life detectors and other equipments," said Singh.
The Indian Government had earlier sent four aircrafts with NDRF teams to oversee rescue and relief operations and also set up a 24-hour control room for queries regarding the tragedy. The impact of the earthquake was felt in almost all northern states in India particularly in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and West Bengal
Govt announces compensation of Rs. 2 lakh to families of those who lost their lives in the quake across parts of India.
550 Indians evacuated by IAF from earthquake-hit Nepal
Nearly 550 Indians have been evacuated by the IAF from quake-hit Nepal even as India stepped up its relief and rescue mission with 10 flights and 12 helicopters scheduled to carry specialists and equipment to Kathmandu on Sunday.
Since 10:40 PM last night, four IAF aircraft have landed from Nepal with 546 Indians on board. The first aircraft to land was a C-130J with 55 passengers on board, including four infants, a defence spokesperson said today. Around midnight, a C-17 aircraft landed with 102 passengers which was followed by an IL 76 with 152.
Around 4 AM, a C17 landed with 237 passengers, all who were evacuated following the massive earthquake that has claimed over 1800 lives. Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said Indian authorities have responded "very proactively, very swiftly and I think every agency, every stakeholder in India who matters in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Nepal in times of their need has been activated and the response has been exceptional".
U-14 girls team stuck in Nepal to be evacuated on priority: Sushma Swaraj
India on Sunday said that it would evacuate on priority 18 members of the country's Under-14 girls football team which is stuck in Nepal following a massive earthquake. In a tweet, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "We will evacuate India's U-14 girls football team on priority".
Air India resumes flights to earthquake hit Nepal
National carrier Air India resumed its flights to quake-hit Nepal with two services- one each from Delhi and Kolkata - leaving for Kathmandu early this morning. Both the flights left around 7:30 am with 118 and 45 passengers on board each plane, an Air India spokesperson said. Besides Air India, other domestic carriers had also cancelled their services to Kathmandu. All these carriers are also expected to resume their flights to Kathmandu today.
United States sending disaster team, initial $1 million to Nepal
The United States will send disaster response and rescue teams to Nepal and has authorized an initial $1 million in aid after a major earthquake killed hundreds in the mountainous Asian nation, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday. "We are working closely with the government of Nepal to provide assistance and support," he said in a statement.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a tweet it was working with the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to launch a disaster response team and described the funding as an initial amount "to address immediate needs."
China sends rescue team to Nepal
A 62-member search and rescue team has left for Nepal to carry out humanitarian rescue there. With six sniffer dogs and relevant rescue and medical equipment, the team is expected to arrive in Kathmandu midday today on a chartered plane, the China Earthquake Administration said. Of the rescuers, 40 are from the 38th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing Military Area Command.
Twenty percent of the experienced rescuers have participated in international rescue missions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday sent a message of condolence to Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav over the disastrous earthquake, worse in over 80 years of Nepal's recorded history. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, as well as in his own name, Xi offered his deep condolences to the victims in the earthquake, and offered sincere sympathies to those injured as well as to the families of the victims.
In his message, the Chinese president also expressed his confidence in the Nepalese government, under the leadership of Yadav, to combat the disaster and China's willingness to provide all necessary assistance. In Tibet the quake also damaged buildings and roads and cut off telecommunications in the two counties and several neighbouring regions. So far, roads leading to the two counties have been cleared, but rescue efforts are hampered by heavy snow in the area.
Rescue operation underway in Nepal, locals resort to roads for the night
A rescue operation has been underway in Nepal by the Armed Police Force (Nepal) in the wake of the massive earthquake that struck Nepal and parts of northern India and locals have resorted to spend the night sleeping on roads after the calamity as a precaution. "We do not have any actual data about how many people are actually in this building. We can see that a boy is inside the building, so we are trying to rescue him. We have been working on this rescue mission since 1.00 pm. We have rescued 50 people so far," said Inspector Ram, Armed Police Force (Nepal).
"Under my command, there are 40 people. In this area, more than 250 Armed Police Disaster Management trainers are working for rescue," he added.
Locals spent the night on roads as their homes were destroyed due to the 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the country. "After the earthquake, we were told by the media that there will be earthquakes again and again. We felt the earthquake three-four times. The first one was the longest which lasted about five minutes. We lost mobile network and there was no electricity," said Pradeep Ranawat, a local.
Indian Railway provides one lakh 'rail neer' bottles as relief
Indian Railway has dispatched one lakh rail neer water bottles to Kathmandu in earthquake-hit Nepal as relief material through the Indian Air Force (IAF). There are arrangements being made to provide one lakh rail neer bottles per day to help the rescue operations in Nepal.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu shared the information in a series of tweets. "Indian Railways has immediately dispatched 1 lakh Rail Neer mineral water bottles to Kathmandu through Airforce tonight," he posted.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Modi had indicated to President Ram Baran of Nepal and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala that India will do everything within its capabilities to be of help to the nation at this difficult moment. "We have set up a helpline in the ministry; the numbers have been put out. We would also request that if there are people who know that their relatives are in Nepal to send us their details. So, there is an e-mail address which is controlroom@mea.gov.in. If anybody who would like to keep us informed about their relatives and give us their contact numbers that would be very helpful for us," he added.
India rushes to offer immediate relief assistance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has visited Nepal twice in his premiership, himself sat at the helm of affairs for stock taking and guiding the rescue efforts by chairing a high-level, crisis management meeting. The meeting was attended by union ministers Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh, national security advisor Ajit Doval, principal secretary Nripendra Misra, additional principal secretary PK Mishra and senior officials from IMD and NDRF.
By 8:30pm, four Indian Air Force transport planes — one C 31-J Super Hercules and two C-17 Globe Master, the biggest transport planes India has — had left for Kathmandu with at least 250 specialised National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and over 100 tonne of relief and rescue material.
The fourth plane, which left at 8:30pm from Hindon airbase near Delhi, carried a fully-equipped mobile hospital with a rapid action medical team comprising of nearly 30 doctors, including orthopedics, medicines and medical equipment. The plane will put in place a fully air-conditioned, 25-bed hospital with state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled medical personnel to assist rescued people.
Not ready to leave anything to chance, the defence ministry readied its fourth, C-130 plane to take the rest of the necessary equipment to Kathmandu. This plane was to take-off at 9:30pm.
The earthquake hit around 11:56 am with epicentre at Lamjung, around 80 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu, had its impact in several cities of Bihar, West Bengal and UP, and tremors were felt across vast stretches of east and northeast India. It was also felt in Southern and Western parts of India, China, Bhutan and as far as Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Several buildings, most of them old, in the densely- populated Kathmandu Valley collapsed, killing hundreds. Over 200 bodies have been retrieved from the debris of two-century old nine-storey landmark Dharhara tower in the centre of the capital. Kathmandu's Darbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was completely damaged in the quake which was the worst to hit Nepal and surrounding regions after the earthquake of 8.4 magnitude which occurred along the Nepal-Bihar border in 1934.
With agency inputs
