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The number of people killed in Nepal by the Himalayan country’s worst earthquake in eight decades has soared past 4,000, with mass cremations happening in the Pashupatinath temple of Kathmandu.
Spain Requests India for Help
The Spanish PM has requested India to rescue its citizens from Nepal. India has deployed the biggest rescue team in Nepal with 13 military aircrafts, over 1000 trained NDRF personnel, 10 Imarsat phones and doctors from AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital sent to the country. The government has also sent interministerial teams to Nepal to overlook relief work. Two tonnes of medical supplies, 50 tonnes of water and 22 tonnes of food collected by states has also been dispatched to the grief stricken country.
Meanwhile, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also donated a month’s salary to the Earthquake relief fund.
Watch: Latest visuals from the ground, rescue ops and the human tragedy
At least 6,833 people are reported injured according to police officials. Nepal has declared Saturday’s earthquake a national calamity and declared a state of emergency.
To add to the misery, heavy rains on Sunday have hampered air rescue attempts and the MeT department predicts more rain on Monday.
Fresh tremors measuring between 5.1 and 6.7 on the Richter scale have also been reported.
47 tremors have been reported in total so far since the earthquake first struck on Saturday.
In Assam there was even a fresh earthquake reported measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale. No deaths or injuries have been reported so far.
The Nepal government has been struggling with lack of facilities and has said that what it needs the most is tents followed by medicine. Many hospitals have had to refuse treatment to the injured for lack of beds.
Many people have also had to stay outdoors for the second day running.
Death Toll in India Rises
The total number of dead has also risen in India.
72 people are confirmed dead while more than 259 have been reported injured according to CNN-IBN.
50 deaths are being reported in Bihar alone followed by 14 in UP, 4 in West Bengal and 1 from as far away as Rajasthan, CNN-IBN reports.
The UP government has ordered that all schools and colleges are to be shut for the next 2 days in light of the strong intensity tremors that have continued since Saturday.
The central government has also hiked the compensation to the families of victims to Rs. 4 Lakh.
Evacuations Intensify
The total number of Indian nationals evacuated from Nepal has risen to 1500 as of Sunday night, with more expected to be evacuated over the next few days.
A government spokesperson has said that India has so far deployed 15 military aircraft, three civilian aircraft of Air India and Jet Airways, eight Mi-17 helicopters, two Advanced Light Helicopters while two more Mi-17 choppers are being kept on standby.
4 more helicopters are expected to join rescue operations later.
He also said that a further 6 National Defence Response Force (NDRF) teams will be sent to Nepal in the next couple of days.
3 NDRF teams were deployed on Sunday.
But the government also said that the predicted rain and cloud cover over the next few days is going to make rescue operations difficult as helicopters and aircraft will not be able to fly.
Meanwhile, Ten tonnes of blankets, 50 tonnes of water, 22 tonnes of food items and two tonnes of medicines have been flown to Kathmandu.
Three army field hospitals and engineering task force and medical units of civilian doctors have been sent to Nepal.
Air India, Spicejet and Jet airways have increased the number of flights to and from Kathmandu. Air India has also slashed its air fares to and from Nepal.
Airtel and BSNL have slashed call rates to Nepal.
The Indian Railways has also said that it is shipping out 1 lakh bottles of water to Nepal.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an emergency meeting where top ministers such as Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj were present, according to CNN-IBN. He asked for the relief and rescue operation to be intensified.
Death Toll Climbs at Everest
The death toll at Everest’s base camp also climbed and the total number of dead stands at 22 with another 69 climbers injured.
A massive avalanche had been triggered when Saturday’s earthquake struck which buried a number of climbers.
Tourism ministry officials estimated that at least 1,000 climbers, including about 400 foreigners, had been at base camp or on the ascent to the peak when the earthquake struck.
The avalanche swept down Everest, burying part of base camp as climbers gathered near the main route to the summit at the beginning of the climbing season in the deadliest incident on the mountain.
The first injured were helicoptered out in the morning on Sunday, Romanian climber Alex Gavan tweeted from base camp.
“All badly injured heli evacuated,” Gavan said. “Caring for those needing. want sleep.”
Read more here.
Global Response Gears Up
Other governments and aid agencies from across the World have started to mobilize doctors, volunteers and equipment to Nepal.
The United States apart from sending 70 personnel, has kept aside $ 700,000 as aid for Nepal.
The United Arab Emirates deployed an 88-member search-and-rescue team to Nepal Sunday, and the Emirates Red Crescent also sent a team.
The Israeli military said it is sending a 260-member mission to Nepal to provide immediate search-and-rescue help and medical aid.
France said it would send 11 rescuers on Sunday; Britain announced that an advance team of eight had been sent and that a 5 million pound ($7.6 million) aid package would be available under a rapid response plan; and the Swiss Foreign Ministry said a team of experts including a doctor, a building surveyor and water quality technician had left for Nepal on Sunday.
Pakistan today sent two planes with relief goods, a field hospital and several paramedics and rescue workers to earthquake-hit Nepal.
The relief goods included ready to eat meals, mineral water, tents, blankets, mobile hospital, medicines and life-saving drugs, it said in a statement.
Read more here.
(With Inputs from PTI)
Helplines
Following are the helpline numbers issued by the Ministry of External Affairs:
+91 11 2301 2113
+91 11 2301 4104
+91 11 2301 7905
Meanwhile, the helpline numbers to contact Indian Embassy in Nepal’s Kathmandu are:
00977-9851107021
00977-9851135141
Read more about #NepalEarthquake:
#NepalEarthquake: India Establishes Quick Response Credentials
#NepalQuake: Fresh Jolts Slow Down Relief Ops, Toll Reaches 2,200
We Will Wipe Tears of People in Nepal: PM in #MannKiBaat
Fresh 6.7 Magnitude Quake Hits Nepal, Tremors Felt in North India
Recounting the Horror of the 2001 Quake That Devastated Bhuj
IAF Evacuates 550 Indians Stranded in Quake-hit Nepal
Tragedy @ Everest: 17 Climbers Including Google Engineer Killed
Watch: Aftershocks on Day 2 Slow Down Rescue Efforts in Nepal
Watch: Mountaineer Stranded at Himalayas Sends Video Message
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