500 dead in Earthquake: Nepal Official

As many as 500 people were killed in a major earthquake that rocked Nepal on Saturday, a Nepalese official said in New Delhi.

Deputy Chief of Mission of Nepal High Commission in New Delhi, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, told the media that according to local reports reaching New Delhi, at least 500 people have been killed across Nepal.

“We are trying to ascertain the exact number (of casualties),” he said.

He also said that the Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who had gone to Thailand on an official visit, is cutting short his sojourn and coming back immediately.

India on Saturday rushed two plane loads of relief material and rescue personnel to Nepal that was devastated by an earthquake in the morning. The defence ministry said that two C-17 Globemasters took off from the Hindon airbase.

(IANS)