According to reports, many communities on the mountainsides have been devastated due to the quake. Rescue teams could not reach the remote areas due to inclement weather and broken communication lines. Rescue teams tried to use mountain trails to reach the ones in need in the remote areas, but, landslides hindered the reach. Many communities from remote areas can only be reached by helicopters as all other communication mediums are inaccessible at this point of time.
The 7.9 magnitude Earthquake also triggered a series of avalanches in Mount Everest claiming the lives of 16 people. The death toll in the Everest base camp may rise further. More than 60 people have been injured and many are still missing. Rescue helicopters are on their way to the Everest base camp to bring the injured climbers back home.
Rescuers are also making efforts to dig out victims from the rubble of damaged buildings in the capital city in Nepal. After working for 2 days, the rescuers were also in a really bad shape but still haven’t given up the operation. The affected areas are expected to receive rain for the next 2 days, which may hamper the rescue operation.
By far, the Indian Air Force has evacuated over 1900 people from the Earthquake hit Nepal. People were brought in a dozen sorties from the affected areas. Due to bad weather and aftershocks, five sorties were aborted yesterday. The situation in Nepal is very serious as it is the worst earthquake in 80 years. The number of people who still have homes in Nepal fear to go inside due to aftershocks. Also, rain in the affected area has led to water leakage in homes.
According to UNICEF’s rolling report, after the massive earthquake in Nepal, nearly a million children need humanitarian assistance. The crisis has left children vulnerable, in particular. They have very limited access to safe water and have no sanitation facilities, which will put them at a very great risk of waterborne diseases. Many children may have been separated from their families as well. UNICEF is ready to send two cargo flights carrying around 120 tonnes of supplies including blankets, tents as well as medical and hospital supplies to Kathmandu.
Nepal has received nearly 100 aftershocks by far, which have made rescue work even more difficult. Death toll in India is at least 66, with 46 in Bihar alone. 20 people have been reported dead in Tibet. In Kathmandu alone, the massive earthquake killed over 1000 people. Many buildings of historical significance have also been destroyed due to the quake. Four out of seven UNESCO world heritage sites have been damaged severely.
Image Credit (theguardian.com)