Rescue operations are underway in full swing after a deadly earthquake on Saturday wreaked havoc in Nepal’s heavily crowded Kathmandu valley that killed around 1900 people and injured over 5000.
Local authorities are afraid as casualties are expected to increase. “Many people are still buried under debris, rescue operations are our first priority,” said Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Nepal's envoy to India.
Fresh tremors measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale hit Nepal again on early Sunday morning. However, no casualties or destruction have been reported.
As reported by Reuters, rescuers were seen digging with their bare hands. They had to use pick axes because bulldozers could not get through the ancient city's narrow streets.
Government of India has sent seven teams of National Disaster Response Force and will be soon sending three more teams. Indian Army has launched a rescue operation under the name of ‘Operation Maitri’. Five MI17 helicopters have been sent to Kathmandu for rescue and relief operations by India.
The earthquake had also triggered a deadly avalanche on Mount Everest, killing 18 people. 61 were injured when part of the base camp was engulfed by the snowslide,
The earthquake with magnitude 7.9, originated around 65 kilometers from the capital Kathmandu and is touted to be one of the worst quake to hit the poor South Asian nation in last 80 years.
The quake was very strong sending tremors across the neighbouring countries including India, Bangladesh, Tibet and Pakistan.
Picture courtesy: time.com
