Death toll in Nepal quake rises to 1,500 - reports

NEW DELHI, April 25 (KUNA) -- The death toll from a devastating earthquake hitting Nepal has come close to the 1,500 mark as rescue teams from India and neighboring countries rushed to the affected areas, Indian news channels reported.
Apart from loss of hundreds of lives in Nepal, death tolls in India rose to 36, while China reported 16 deaths. Four people were killed in Bangladesh while there are reports of six deaths in Tibet due to quake.
The devastating earthquake also triggered an avalanche which killed some 18 people on Mount Everest.
India deployed rescue operation teams including National Disaster Response Force to support the Nepalese government in its rescue mission. Tonnes of food and other relief items were also dispatched by Indian authorities to the Himalayan country on board four Indian aircraft.
There are fears that the death toll would climb up to double of what has already been confirmed as there are hundreds of missing people and many areas are not yet accessible to the rescue teams.
The Indian Air Force have, meanwhile, brought back the first batch of 55 Indians after evacuating them from Kathmandu. Bad weather has restricted rescue operations in many parts of the country but Indian Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has promised to continue the operation until all those stranded are brought back.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with both President of Nepal Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to pledge all possible support at this time of need.
Meanwhile, the US said it was deploying a team of disaster response experts to Nepal, providing an initial USD one million in disaster relief assistance, and stands ready to assist the government and people of Nepal and the region further in this time of need, said a statement from National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake, centered less than 50 miles from Kathmandu, toppled homes, temples and historic buildings, leaving at least 1,457 people dead, authorities said. (pickup previous) atk.rm.bs