LOC11:19
08:19 GMT
NEW DELHI, April 27 (KUNA) -- International relief and rescue efforts in quake-devastated Nepal intensified on Monday amid fears of recurring aftershocks as Kathmandu felt latest tremors late night on Sunday and again this morning.
After last Saturday's devastating 7.8-magnitude quake, there were as many as 26 aftershocks; the highest being a 6.7-magnitude quake on Sunday at noon.
Meanwhile, the death toll in India in the wake of the quake went up to 66 as the Nepal-ordering state of Bihar alone accounting for 51 deaths.
All countries in the region, led by India and China, dispatched rescue teams, with concrete cutters and sniffer dogs as the latest governmental update revealed that the death toll has gone above 3,500.
Meanwhile, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala called upon the people to donate blood as all state hospitals were overflown by injured people and makeshift treatment posts were erected on roads and public places.
India on its part has deployed its Indo-Nepal border forces on rescue mission as 2,900-strong contingent were waiting in the border with medical aid and food.
China reported that Beijing has offered 3.3 million humanitarian aid to Nepal. China, which also lost more than 20 lives in the quake, also dispatched a 62-member rescue team.
The China National Tourism Administration informed state news agency Xinhua that there are about 4,000 Chinese tourists stranded in Nepal and Chinese airlines had taken home around 1,000 nationals on Sunday.
Media reports on rescue and relief activities said that Canada has dispatched its Disaster Assistance Response Team to Nepal along with USD four million worth of relief materials.
The US, the EU, Russia, Japan, Bangladesh, Algeria, Finland and the Philippines also dispatched their rescue crews, in addition to sending relief and emergency equipment.
Meanwhile, international organizations and rescue teams in Nepal are warning of possible outbreak of communicable diseases as the affected people are still lacking food, shelter as there is a high chance for water/air-borne diseases to spread. (end)
atk.hb