The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday has risen to 1457, according to Nepal Army, as quoted by the country’s Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat.

Meanwhile, an Indian army mountaineering team found 18 bodies on Mount Everest, an army spokesman said.

Nepal’s Tourism Ministry could only confirm 10 deaths, but spokesman Gyanendra Shrestha said that the death toll could rise, and that the avalanche had buried part of the base camp. He said two tents at the camp had been filled with the injured.

Ministry officials estimated that at least 1,000 climbers, including about 400 foreigners, had been at base camp or on Everest when the earthquake struck.

Casualties have been reported in Tibet and parts of India too.

There were reports of devastation in outlying areas of the Himalayan country after the quake struck with a magnitude of 7.9, its epicentre 50 miles (80 km) east of Nepal’s second largest city, Pokhara.

A video documenting the devastation in Kathmandu surfaced on the internet.

Meanwhile, planes with relief material left for Kathmandu from Delhi with 40 National Disaster Response Force personnel and 4 tonnes of medical relief at around 4pm.

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar briefed the media at 5pm:

- C130 aircraft is on its way and landing in Kathmandu shortly. Carrying 3 tonnes of supplies and 40 NDRF personnel. Two more aircrafts will fly off later today, carrying NDRF teams. Third aircraft will fly from Bhatinda.

- By tomorrow, 5 helicopters will be placed in Pokhara for airlifting purposes.

- There has been severe damage in Kathmandu, our embassy has some damage. One staff member’s wife died.

- We have set up a helpline in the ministry, numbers have been sent out. There is an email address ‘controlroom@mea.gov.in’ for any information.

- Nepalese Govt has asked for help with rescue teams, medical teams and help with damage assessment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier called his Nepalese counterpart PM Sushil Koirala assuring him of all assistance for relief work.

A 15-year-old girl was killed in northern India after the earthquake brought down the wall of her home in a village near the border with Nepal.

Another girl was killed by a falling statue in a town outside Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, according to Nepal’s state radio.

TV reports say that thousands are injured. There are also picture of severe damages to infrastructure including roads, bridges and houses. Historical monument like Dharahara tower in Kathmandu was reduced to rubble.

Strong tremors were felt in eastern and northern parts of India. The tremors, which were felt in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab, lasted for a minute, triggering panic and forcing people to rush out of their houses and offices.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh told journalists that 10-12 casualties in some states were reported but the ministry was awaiting an official confirmation as of 4pm.

News agency ANI reported that death toll in the state of Bihar had reached 15.

An 83-year-old woman was killed in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. The woman was killed after her house collapsed in Nyelam County in Shigatse City, state-run Xinhua news agency cited local authorities as saying.

(With agency inputs)