India & Natural Disaster Management

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 15:30

United Nations ‏@UN 11h11 hours ago

United Nations retweeted UNOCHA

Critical needs incl: search & rescue capacity, medical teams, supplies & tenting for hospitals + more. #NepalQuake

United Nations added,
UNOCHA @UNOCHA
(2/2) Heavy equipment for rubble removal; Helicopters for transport and access to blocked areas. #NepalQuake http://www.unocha.org/top-stories/all-s ... -1000-dead …

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 26 Apr 2015 15:35

The North Sikkim Quake of 2011 was similar - remote inaccessible area with zilch infra. Luckily, that was very sparsely populated one too. And the IA was resent in strength in the rest of Sikkim, was able to help. Not so in Nepal.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 15:38

Also posted before.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 15:42

They need 100s of helicopters. With the 6 from India, a dozen or two internal, may be they have 20-30 total.

3.5 million in kathmandu, rescuers arent getting to rural areas anytime soon.

And they have 100,000s clamoring to get out choking the gateways. And aftershocks. And this was an 8!

This is bad business. It will need an lrder of magnitude more effort in the next day. Which isnt happening, its physically not possible.

Recovery will take decades.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 26 Apr 2015 15:43

And the Rains are coming to be followed by winter ..........

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 15:50

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 15:53

http://indianexpress.com/article/world/ ... ocialMedia

Nepal, Nepal earthquake, earthquake, earthquake nepal, indian army, indian air force, india aid nepal, india relief ops nepal, india relief ops, World News A U.S. Air Force plane, background and an Indian army helicopter are parked on the tarmac of the Kathmandu international airport the day after a massive earthquake devastated the region, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, April 26, 2015. (AP Photo)

Transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force stationed in Chandigarh have been pressed into service for the earthquake relief operations being carried out in Nepal. Four IL-76 and one AN-32 aircraft of Chandigarh-based 12 Wing are flying sorties to Kathmandu carrying relief material from other parts of the country.

The first IL-76 from the air base was pressed into service yesterday evening at around 4:15 pm, barely two hours after the IAF was sounded an alert about impending relief operations. Speaking to The Indian Express, Air Commodore SK Indoria, Air Officer Commanding of the base said that the first sortie lifted 160 NDRF personnel from Bathinda to Kathmandu along with three sniffer dogs and several tonnes of relief material.

.....

Air Commodore Indoria informed that the technical crews of the station worked round the clock in order to keep the aircraft in flying condition. The heavy lift chopper MI-26, which is one of the biggest in the world and can transport great loads, is also based in Chandigarh and is being kept in a stand by condition to carry heavy loads to Nepal whenever required.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 16:07

Look at the bloody narrative:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/nep ... d=30577374

The U.S. government is providing $1 million in assistance, according to the U.S. Embassy in Nepal. Disaster relief teams are en route.

Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement, "To the people in Nepal and the region affected by this tragedy we send our heartfelt sympathies. The United States stands with you during this difficult time."

The Pakistan Army also said it is sending relief teams.

ABC News' Jon Williams, Rym Momtaz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is all I see in western media. Not even a word about how they are getting to nepal, let alone who else is helping. A $1m. Whopdeedoo!

prahaar · Post by **prahaar** » 26 Apr 2015 16:12

Shreeman wrote:Look at the bloody narrative:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/nep ... d=30577374

At least in some parts of Europe, people know who is really in a position to help and also providing help. First time ever, there was Arnab Goswami on Finnish state television live, giving updates. Unfortunately I could not tune in so could not follow up to what was the discussion.

But Yemen and then now in Nepal, people know whom to contact to get their people out of Nepal.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 16:14

Dera Sacha Sauda ‏@derasachasauda 10m10 minutes ago

As per the requirements raised by PMO,First lot of 16000 packed food has been sent to Nepal in the mrng under @Gurmeetramrahim ji's guidance

There. The man may be a kook, but no more to be sent. It is now has been sent.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 16:18

prahaar wrote:
Shreeman wrote:Look at the bloody narrative:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/nep ... d=30577374
At least in some parts of Europe, people know who is really in a position to help and also providing help. First time ever, there was Arnab Goswami on Finnish state television live, giving updates. Unfortunately I could not tune in so could not follow up to what was the discussion.

But Yemen and then now in Nepal, people know whom to contact to get their people out of Nepal.

It has nothing to do with people on the ground. Everything to do with who gets the charity windfall. They get a decade of budget, you do work for free -- free air india, air force, indigo flights. andthen the complaints will start about delays and quality.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 16:24

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 16:25

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 16:27

Travel World ‏@travelworld101 44m44 minutes ago

Air India, SpiceJet to operate free relief flights to Nepal: The airline has also waived off cancellation and ... http://binged.it/1DyrEp4

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 16:32

meanwhile,..

umisha Naidu ‏@sumishanaidu 2h2 hours ago

Malaysian high comm rep in Nepal has told my friends' family they're low on resources,funds to get helicopters to evacuate those at Everest
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Sumisha Naidu ‏@sumishanaidu 2h2 hours ago

Rep gave them the phone number if they wanted to get a helicopter themselves. Apparently it costs USD5000 #Nepal

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 16:39

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Apr 2015 16:56

* heavy rains expected in next 24 hrs - this will make life very miserable to people huddled in camps and outside the airport for fear of aftershocks. nobody is daring to live inside houses yet, as extent of damage is not assessed.

* everest base camp has apparently been hit by another avalanche today to aftershock. some cellphone footage was shown. around 250 of the 1000 people in base camp are still reported missing. around 20 confirmed dead.

* some relief ops amd surveys are done in smaller towns like pokhra today, but the situation in the hamlets of higher himalaya the "sherpa region" nobody has gone there yet for any comprehensive data. perhaps only satellite imagery analysis by india and china can help there.

* damage to houses in "gorkha belt" is said to be 80% houses suffered some damage.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 16:59

Indian contingent is now 10 fixed wing + 10 rotary -- all types + civilian. It wont matter though, for this scale. There might be 100k wanting to get out in all.

Also, Nepal has formally invited china again. That means PLA now. That will complicate things later.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 17:24

ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 18m 18 minutes ago

Multinational coordination centre being setup. At PPO Pokhra addl HQ is being established for relief operations. #OpMaitri #NepalEarthquake
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 19m 19 minutes ago

10 satellite phones sent to Nepal for communications #OpMaitri #NepalEarthquake
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 20m 20 minutes ago

Ten Engineer Task Forces consisting manpower,skid steers & JCBs being send. One ETF already reached Nepal #OpMaitri #NepalEarthquake
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 21m 21 minutes ago

18 Medical Teams being deployed in Nepal including 6 teams which have already reached

04 IAF MI 17 Hepters took off for rescue to Dhadind, Charikot, Chatauran & Gorkha

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 17:31

Firstpost ‏@firstpost 6m6 minutes ago

Thirteen military aircraft to be sent to Nepal for rescue, says NDMA.

It probably doesnt matter. But if the overall casualty number stays even in /under 10k, this sort of would have made a difference.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 26 Apr 2015 17:35

09:07 GMT:

Russia is dispatching aircraft with highly-qualified rescue teams to Nepal, reported Deputy Emergency Minister Vladimir Stepanov. The first two flights are set to leave Moscow at 4pm (13:00 GMT), with more to follow within the nearest future. The teams will arrive with all the necessary equipment and are expected to undertake rescue operations immediately upon arrival.

@RT

Kathmandu probably runs out of apron space anytime now.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Apr 2015 19:08

a younger Namo during kutch earthquake. found on fb support namo page

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 26 Apr 2015 19:15

How many helicopters Indian Army & others can operate to send small rescue & rehab teams across rural Nepal? We should have about 100+ Mi7 and Mi8 helicopters.

We need small teams of 5-10 people (includes a doctor, a nurse, armed person, few volunteers & a sniffer dog) along with about 1 ton of food & fuel supply for each remote village in Nepal.

Can the paratrooper batallions do this?

Cities like Khatmandu with airports can be supplied by civil/military planes.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Apr 2015 19:16

the helicopters in nepal for tourism and govt work do not seem suited for heavy duty loads...most of the eurocopter eceuril type used to ferry around mountaineers and recover anyone needing medical aid, they have a high ceiling but not great ability at lifting loads. these are also quite common in the alps.
http://www.helis.com/h/as350_9n-aje.jpg

so I expect any relief to the everest type high camps to be slow in arriving unless we send up Dhruvs. there is a long and steep slope between everest on the left and lhotse on the right, which people use fixed ropes to climb and some kinda advanced camp up there, the cam footage showed a giant avalanche cutting diagonally across this slope from everest side and another one bearing down like a tsunami on a camp below.

there are many other forbidding 8000er peaks each with their own base camps like dhaulagiri, manas lu, maka lu, annapurna, Cho Oyu...no reports how these made out....we could be looking at 100s of KIA among mountaineers alone.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 19:16

Earthquake Claims 50 Lives in Bihar, Says Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

Patna: As many as 50 people have been killed in yesterday's earthquake in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said and directed government officials to carry out relief work for the affected on a war footing.

Addressing a press conference after presiding over a review meeting with secretary-level officials at the state secretariat today, he said as per the latest figures available, as many as 50 people have been killed in the powerful quake measuring 7.5 on the Richter Scale yesterday.

Mr Kumar said one person was killed in a quake-related incident in Samastipur district.

Related

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The Chief Minister said he has ordered officials to undertake relief work among the quake-affected on a war footing in Bihar for which all the ministers and secretaries will camp in the districts under their charge.

Relief work will also be carried out simultaneously for all those affected by unseasonal rains in February and March this year, cyclonic storm in Purnia and other districts earlier this month, besides the earthquake, he said.

To mitigate the woes of people affected by a series of natural calamities in the past few months, it has been decided that one quintal foodgrain, besides Rs. 5800 assistance will be distributed to each affected family as immediate relief, Mr Kumar said.

He said an ex-gratia of Rs. 4 lakh has been paid to the kin of all those people killed in the earthquake.

The extent of damage to crops and houses was being assessed for providing compensation to the affected people, Mr Kumar said, adding, the compensation to those people whose houses have been destroyed or damaged by the quake and other calamities recently will be provided from the Disaster Management Funds.

Referring to an aftershock which was felt this afternoon, measuring 6.7 on the Richter Scale, he urged people to remain vigilant and extend cooperation among themselves to allay fears arising out of frequent aftershocks which have been rocking Bihar since yesterday.

The damage, if any, caused by the aftershock, was being assessed, Mr Kumar said.

"I appeal to you all to display patience and remain united to guard against panic being created by false rumours being spread by mischievous elements through social networking sites, including WhatsApp," he said.

Mr Kumar said he had visited public places in the state capital last night with a specific purpose to reassure people in the aftermath of the tremors and said the state government was doing all it can to mitigate the situation.

Noting that people take shelter in public places after earthquake, the Chief Minister said he has directed the administration to ensure that all public parks remain open and potable water is available at all public places and parks for consumption.

He said he has further asked the officials to carry out patrolling at public places to restore confidence among the people.

Mr Kumar said he was in constant touch with the Centre to monitor the situation and lauded the Central government for doing whatever it could to mitigate the situation in Bihar.

The Chief Minister also announced closure of all schools for two days from tomorrow as a precautionary measure.

All government and public schools in the state will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday for which necessary instructions has been issued, he said.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 19:18

ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 5m 5 minutes ago

All 7 Gorkha Regts planning to send Nepali Gorkha Jawans to Nepal with Medical Officers to further assist the operations. #NepalEarthquake
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 11m 11 minutes ago

Five ALH helicopters and two cheetah helicopters stage forwarded to Gorakhpur to support casualty evacuation #OpMaitri #NepalEarthquake
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 2h 2 hours ago

Indian Army's Everest Team Rescue Efforts in Nepal
#NepalEarthquake #OpMaitri
Indian Army Everest Expedition was... http://fb.me/6wAB7jWXs
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 2h 2 hours ago

Multinational coordination centre being setup. At PPO Pokhra addl HQ is being established for relief operations. #OpMaitri #NepalEarthquake
99 retweets 71 favorites
ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 2h 2 hours ago

10 satellite phones sent to Nepal for communications #OpMaitri #NepalEarthquake
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 2h 2 hours ago

Ten Engineer Task Forces consisting manpower,skid steers & JCBs being send. One ETF already reached Nepal #OpMaitri #NepalEarthquake
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 2h 2 hours ago

18 Medical Teams being deployed in Nepal including 6 teams which have already reached #OpMaitri #NepalEarthquake

View more photos and videos
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 2h 2 hours ago

“You can only die once, make sure it's worth it.” http://fb.me/6A4avt6Pn
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 5h 5 hours ago

04 IAF MI 17 Hepters took off for rescue to Dhadind, Charikot, Chatauran & Gorkha #NepalEarthquake

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 19:19

Vikas Swarup @MEAIndia · 46m 46 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake Number of evacuated Indians in six IAF flights reaches 1050. More flights expected tonight.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 19:25

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 54m 54 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake 2day's Task by IAF Heptrs in Nepal :Sorties-37, Hours-23, Passengers evacuated-203, Loads dropped- 3.7 tons.
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chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 19:26

PMO India @PMOIndia · 1h 1 hour ago

This amount of Rs. 4 lakh is in addition to the compensation of Rs. 2 lakh from the PMNRF to the next of kin of those who lost their lives.
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PMO India @PMOIndia · 1h 1 hour ago

Next of kin of those who lost their lives in various parts of the country due to Earthquake will receive enhanced compensation of Rs. 4 lakh
468 retweets 513 favorites

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 19:34

ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 16m 16 minutes ago

Focus on interior areas as chances of epidemic high due to damage and inaccessibility of relief forces. #NepalEarthquake #OpMaitri
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ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 18m 18 minutes ago

300 oxygen cylinders located at Bengdubi, India being dispatched to Nepal on account of problems in Kathmandu oxygen plant #OpMaitri

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 19:45

Live Nepal earthquake: IAF operations on hold due to bad weather;

To make matter worse, there is prediction of heavy rain and thundershowers in next 24 hours which is likely to only hamper the rescue work. "Weather Forecasting Centre of Indian Meteorological Department has predicted fairly widespread rain/ thundershower activity over Nepal during next the 24 hours. "The activity is most likely to become widespread on April 27 and 28 with the possibility of isolated heavy thunderstorm activity, particularly over eastern part of Nepal," the Ministry of Earth Science said in a release.

20:20 IST Sunday, 26 April 2015

As predicted by the IMD department, it has started to rain in Nepal. Tweets emerging from Nepal paint an extremely grim picture. i

Vikas Swarup @MEAIndia · 7m 7 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake Another IAF C 130 lands in Delhi with 141 passengers

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 26 Apr 2015 19:48

GoI need to redefine/re-equip NDRF with more modularized & containerized teams. Indian subcontinent is full of villages of population <5000 and they are most affected in natural disasters & are most vulnerable to influence by Breaking India forces.

India need to acquire 100+ rotary aircraft with container-style payloads to augment NDRF on immediate basis. These can be duel-used by Indian Army during war.

Each team should be build with a medical team, rescue team, couple of para commandos and 4-5 civilian volunteers along with food, medicine and fuel supply for 500 people for 4-5 days.

This whole thing can be made into a container of 5Ton category. India should build a capacity of 10,000 such containers. (To cover a disaster area of a small state - 10k villages)

This can be a good Make In India project.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 26 Apr 2015 19:52

looking at kathmandu airport, the main apron can take around 10 planes max in a line.
there are two addl parking areas, one of which could likely be a helipad and the other one might take 3 planes max.

so there is room atleast in kathmandu for a intensive air effort, but the heavy machinery and supplies is best sent up by road from UP and Bihar its much faster and more efficient than a airlift.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 19:54

India-Nepal share roti-beti relationship, says official

Headlines Today met with the Deputy Chief of Commission in the Nepal Embassy, Krishna Prasad Dhakal for more information.

HLT: There has been tremendous devastation in Nepal after the earthquake. Has national emergency been declared?

KP Dhakal: As of now, what I can say is that national emergency may be declared soon. Right now there hasn't been such declaration. There's no official word on it. Such a devastation has happened after 80 years in Nepal and our cities and villages have been affected.

HLT: Give us a detailed account of the devastation that Nepal is seeing and what is the preparedness of the agencies?

KP Dhakal: I am sad to say that there has been widespread devastation. Right from capital city Kathmandu to other major cities and villages as well. Loss of life has been huge. More than 500 people have died and the count is going up. There is no count of loss of property.

HLT: We hear that there has been some damage to the Indian Embassy as well. Could you confirm

KP Dhakal: There has been some damage to the embassy but it is not much. Local news has it that there has been some damage.

HLT: What has been the state of villages? How are you reaching out?

KP Dhakal: The old city houses have been broken. In villages, most of the houses aren't cemented and hundreds of houses have been devastated. A lot of property has been lost. The government of Nepal is accessing the situation and Nepal Army, Nepal Police with other authorities are operational all over Nepal. We are doing an assessment and strategy is being worked out.

HLT: There would be hundreds of tourists stranded in various parts of Nepal? What sort of assistance is being provided to them? Is there a count of how many Indians are stuck right now?

KP Dhakal: This is a tourist season and there are hundreds of tourists stuck at various parts. As of now, we do not have exact information what kind of problems they are facing or where they are stranded. Priority is to rescue tourists and we are analysing the situation. It may take a few days for us to get information about foreigners at various locations.

HLT: What sort of assistance are you getting right now?

KP Dhakal: Government of India has already sent a rescue team and government of Nepal could request other countries for help as well. A decision on it would be taken as well.

HLT: There are many who have their close ones, relatives and friends in Nepal. What's the message for them?

KP Dhakal: I want to tell them that this is a big tragedy for Nepal and people. This is time when we need to be patient. India, Nepal share a "roti and beti" relationship. Government of Nepal is committed to the rescue work and saving lives of the people. We will do our level best to help them so they need not worry. Government of Nepal and friendly nations are there for help.
l

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 20:00

Singha wrote:looking at kathmandu airport, the main apron can take around 10 planes max in a line.
there are two addl parking areas, one of which could likely be a helipad and the other one might take 3 planes max.

so there is room atleast in kathmandu for a intensive air effort, but the heavy machinery and supplies is best sent up by road from UP and Bihar its much faster and more efficient than a airlift.

KTM is currently closed due to inclement weather. Buses and equipments are being sent by road route since morning. Now focus will shift to evacuation by road route which can do it faster from rural areas as well as Kathmandu. There is shortage of food, shelter and medicines. Rains aren't making things easy. After third day rotting bodies will make epidemic a frightening reality. Disposal of bodies and sanitation will have to happen in parallel.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 20:12

ARVIND MISHRA ‏@mishraarvindi 2m2 minutes ago

Mammoth relief operation on by India on second day in quake-hit #NepalEarthquake
#Proudonindianarmy

MSF UAE ‏@MSF_UAE 3m3 minutes ago

#MSF is sending 8 teams to assist those affected by the #NepalEarthquake, including highly skilled emergency surgical teams
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Hundreds cremated near Pashupatinath temple

I hope thy go for mass cremation instead of individual ones. Quick disposal is the need of the hour.

he funeral of more than 100 people took place on Sunday within a short time. "People are conducting the last rites wherever they can and without following the proper rituals," a witness told IANS.

Hundreds waited in serpentine queue to cremate their near and dear ones.

Hindus form 80 percent of Nepal's 29 million people. Buddhists account for another 10 percent.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 20:31

Earthquake Nepal retweeted
Michael Holmes @holmescnn · 11h 11 hours ago

Nepalese Television (NTV) says Langtang Valley is completely destroyed with roughly two thousand people killed. #NepalQuake
177 retweets 25 favorites

A landslide triggered by Saturday's earthquake has blocked the Bhedetar, Mulghat road section of Koshi Highway.

Transportation to Dhankuta, Terhatum, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur have been cut off due to the landslide. One-way transportation was resumed this morning but it too was stopped after another mudslide blocked the road.

Nepal Army team, which has been working to resume the blocked highway said that the removal of the debris may take some time due to muddy roads.

KATHMANDU, APR 26 -The death toll from Saturday's deadly 7.9 magnitude quake that struck with its epicenter at Gorkha district has reached more than 2500 as of Sunday evening.

According to information provided by Nepal Police at 6 pm today, 777 have lost their lives in Kathmandu alone. Likewise, 224 in Bhaktapur and 151 in Lalitpur died in the catastrophe.

The Central region is the worst hit with 1,017 deaths followed by Western Region with 209. Fifty lives were lost in Eastern region while two deaths have been reported in Mid Western. No quake-related deaths have been reported in Far Western region.

The worst hit regions after Kathmandu Valley include Sindhupalchowk, Rasuwa, Dolakha, Dhading, Gorkha, among other districts where hundreds lost their lives in the tremor.

In Kathmandu, old settlement areas such as Basantapur, Thamel, Nardevi, and Jhochhen have suffered major damages. Historical monuments such as Dharhara, Basantapur Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square have also been completely destroyed.

Government declared national crisis in the wake of disaster and established a fund of Rs. 500 million for the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructures across the country

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 20:36

Avalanche overwhelms Langtang village, over 100 feared dead-

DHUNCHE, April 26: More than 100 persons have been feared dead in the avalanche triggered by the deadly earthquake here on Saturday.

According to Chief District Officer, Uddhav Prasad Bhattarai, the avalanche has engulfed Langtang village.

Nepal Army has been rescuing some stranded tourists and villagers.
Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police have been mobilized since early morning for the rescue.

The roadway is almost blocked. Ninety percent of the houses in the district are damaged, he added. f

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 20:40

Earthquakes claim more than 2,400 lives (Update IV)

KATHMANDU, April 26: The death toll by earthquakes that struck Nepal on Saturday and Sunday claimed a total of 2,400 lives and injured 5,850 till Sunday afternoon, the Home Ministry said.

Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat after attending an emergency meeting today said that the government has decided to give Rs 40,000 to deceased family members as compensation.

The government has also asked the citizens to remain calm and help in rescue operation.

Big earthquake just a hoax: Minister Rijal

Minister for Information and Communications Dr Minendra Rijal has requested the citizens not to go with hoax that powerful earthquake will soon strike in Nepal. "No one can predict earthquake. We request everyone not to go with the hoax," the minister added.

Political leaders visit Gorkha

Leaders from various political parties visited to earthquake-hit areas of Gorkha district today on a helicopter. However, the helicopter could not land due to bad weather.

Former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai, Nepali Congress chief whip Chinkaji Shrestha and CA member Cham Bahadur Gurung visited affected areas with team of doctors. The team visited Barpak, epicenter of Saturday’s earthquake. The doctors were dropped at Arughat VDC, said Bhattarai. They returned capital with few injured victims.

“Barpak and nearby villages looked devastated from helicopter,” Bhattarai said.

------------

An earthquake of 7.6 Richter scale on Saturday (epicenter in Gorkha) and 6.5 Richter scale on Sunday (epicenter in Sindhupalchowk) struck in Nepal. Besides earthquakes, Nepal also received after-shocks multiple times.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has struck the grief-stricken Kathmandu citizens on Sunday evening.

Nepal Republic Media Pvt Ltd has decided not to publish Monday editions of Republica and its sister publication Nagarik dailies. The publisher has asserted to this effect as valley continues to experience earthquakes and sporadic after-shocks. The publisher regrets inconvience caused to our valuable readers.

People camp in various open areas

The fear-struck people of the valley have camped in various open areas by themselves.

---------------

Likewise, 150 people died in Sindupalchwok, 126 in Dhading, 133 in Nuwakot, 120 in Gorkha and 71 in Rasuwa.

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Kathmandu valley and other parts of the country at 11:56 am, causing more than 100 aftershocks within the interval of some minutes and some hours in some cases.

Earlier Government Spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Minendra RijalMinister Rijal said that the exact death could have been higher by three fold.

Minister Rijal informed that the Gorkha district was hit hardest by the quake as the epicenter of this mega earthquake was there. The Nepal Army is rescuing the victims at on a war footing scale.

He also shared that in Kathmandu valley, the rescue and relief works have been expedited from various 13 places.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Apr 2015 20:44

RSS Swayamsevaks steps in for Earthquake Rescue Operation at Nepal, expresses deep condolences
Date posted: April 26, 2015

Kathmandu April 26: Swayamsevaks of Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh, RSS, joined in for the rescue operation at the earthquake affected areas in Nepal. RSS inspired Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in Nepal is leading the rescue operation. RSS Swayamsevaks from Kushinagar and Maharajganj Jilla, the 2 northern most districts of Uttara Pradesh and also from few Border regions of Bihar; joined the rescue operations hours after the occurrence of the great tragedy.

RSS expressed deep condolences on the sad tragedy. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya said “RSS shares the grief and shock about devastating Earthquake with the people and expresses deep condolences and prayer for the deceased”.

RSS Sah-Sarakaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale to join Swayamsevaks from RSS and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in rescue operation this evening at quake hit zones in Nepal