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Nepal Tremors : At least 1900 people are known to have died till now, toll may rise

At least 1900 people are known to have died in a powerful earthquake in Nepal, with many more feared trapped under rubble, officials say.

The 7.9 magnitude quake struck an area between the capital, Kathmandu, and the city of Pokhara. This is the highest magnitude tremors in past 81 yearsTremors were felt across the region, with further loss of life in India, Bangladesh and on Mount Everest.The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas.Nepali Information Minister Minendra Rijal said there had been "massive damage" at the epicentre, from where little information is emerging."We need support from the various international agencies which are more knowledgeable and equipped to handle the kind of emergency we face now," he said.A national police spokesman told the BBC that 876 people had died in the quake.

Rescuers are digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings in the capital trying to reach survivors.
A number of historic buildings have been destroyed.
Among those wrecked was the landmark Dharahara tower, with many feared trapped in its ruins.
After the earthquake struck, frightened residents came out into the streets. Mobile phones and other communications have been disrupted.
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At the scene: Navin Singh Khadka, BBC Nepali
Major historic monuments in the Nepalese capital have been destroyed in the powerful earthquake, eyewitnesses and officials have said.
These include a nine-storey tower, temples and some parts of what was once a royal palace, all listed as Unesco world heritage sites.
Pictures posted on social media show some of the monuments have been reduced to rubble.
Eyewitnesses say several others now have cracks and could collapse.
Officials have said some temples and monuments at other world heritage sites near Kathmandu have also been damaged.
These sites are Nepal's major tourist attractions.
Nepal had lost several such monuments during a major earthquake in 1934.

There are also reports of damage to Kathmandu airport which could hamper relief operations.
With little known about the extent of the damage around the earthquake's epicentre, there are fears the death toll could rise.
Aftershocks continued to ripple through the region hours after.
The quake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing at least eight people, officials say.
"Running for life from my tent. Unhurt. Many many people up the mountain,"tweeted mountaineer Alex Gavan.
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World's strongest earthquakes
§  Chile, 1960, a 9.5 magnitude quake triggers a tsunami. At least 1,700 people are killed
§  Alaska, 1964, 131 people are killed in a 9.2 earthquake
§  Indonesia, 2004, the devastating 9.1 earthquake and ensuing tsunami kills more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries
§  Japan, 2011, a 9.0 quake triggers a tsunami, killing more than 18,000 people
§  Russia, 1952, another 9.0 earthquake caused damage but no reported casualties
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At least 35 people have been killed in India, Indian officials say, with one death also reported in Bangladesh.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met his ministers to review the situation. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has pledged help for the Nepalese authorities.
It is the worst earthquake to strike Nepal since one in 1934 all but destroyed Kathmandu.


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