Death Toll Rises Over 1,800 With Rescue Operations In Full Swing

By M. Santhiran NEW DELHI, April 27 (Bernama) -- Rescue operations are in full swing with the death toll rising over 1,800 in Nepal, mostly in Kathmandu while India reported 51 deaths and 10 casualties in Tibet following the devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the Himalayan region Saturday afternoon. The tremblor which triggered a massive avalanche near base camp 1 and 2 of Mount Everest, so far recorded 18 deaths. Nepalese officials said there were nearly 1,000 people in the mountain region when the quake struck around noon (local time) Saturday. The United States Geological Survey said the quake hit at 11.56 am (2.56pm Malaysian time). It initially reported a magnitude 7.7 before revising the calculation to 7.5 and later upgraded to 7.9. So far, 45 aftershocks were reported with some of the shocks measured 5 to 6 on the Richter scale. The earthquake caused extensive damage to properties and destroyed many hictorical landmarks, including the UNESCO-recognised heritage sites such as Dharahara Tower and Durbar Square. Power, water and mobile networks were reported down Saturday and early Sunday morning in some areas telco lines were gradually being stored. Authorities in both in India and Nepal said a humanitarian crisis was unfolding with most residents in the city still struggling to come to terms with the disaster. Chaos and real despair were reported among people who lost their family members and friends with death tolls expected to increase further with rescuers reaching more hilly regions with Kathmandu Valley reported to be worstly hit. With more details emerging on the scale of devastation, local media in the Nepal capital carried visuals of thousands of residents spending their night mostly in open areas with the authorities warning of more aftershocks in the next 24 hours. Indian authorities rushed in tonnes of medical aid and food with nearly 150 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel already on the ground to assist Nepalese security forces which headed the search and rescue operation. India also dispatched about 40 doctors and already started preliminary work in setting up a field hospital with reports that thousands of people severely injured. Early Sunday morning (about 1am), the first batch of 102 stranded Indian nationals were flown back to Delhi in two military aircraft. -- BERNAMA