500 dead in quake: Nepal official

New Delhi, April 25
As many as 500 people were killed in a major earthquake that rocked Nepal on Saturday, a Nepalese official said here.

Deputy Chief of Mission of Nepal High Commission in New Delhi, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, told the media that according to local reports reaching here, 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.

The Kathmandu airport was shut on Saturday following a massive earthquake that rocked Nepal, resulting in the cancellation of Indian flights bound for the capital city.

An IndiGo flight for Nepal, which left at 11:30 a.m. was called back and the departures of two others were cancelled, according to authorities here. The earthquake struck at 11:41 a.m. They also said an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah to Kathmandu was diverted to the Indian capital.

Some airlines said they were awaiting further inputs before resuming operations to Nepal, while otjers announced immediate cancellations. An Indigo flight was called back from Kathmandu, and the departure of two flights of Jet Airways and Air India were 

"SpiceJet flights to KTM (Kathmandu) is on hold until we get more news on impact of earthquake and readiness of Kathmandu airport," a spokesperson for the airline told IANS.

Kathmandu suffered devastation in the quake that measured 7.9 on the Richter scale.

Sources at Indira Gandhi International Airport said modifications will be made in the schedules once a clear picture emerges. "We are assessing the situation," an official said.

PM appoints Rudy to assess situation, calls meet on quake

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appointed union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy to assess the situation in the states bordering Nepal after a massive earthquake hit the Himalayan country.

The prime minister also called a meeting with ministers and top government officials to discuss the situation.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the quake, measuring 6 on the Richter scale in Delhi, had a depth of 10 km and its impact lasted up to one minute.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicentre was in Nepal's Lamjung, a district some 75 km from Kathmandu. The aftershocks were felt even half-an-hour after the quake.

Modi instructed Rudy to take stock of the situation in the districts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh that are along the Nepal border.

He also spoke to the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Sikkim. He was also trying to speak to his Nepal counterpart Sushil Koirala, who is abroad.

The Prime Minister's Office tweeted: "Modi has spoken to Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav."

The PMO has also spoken to the Indian embassy in Bhutan. The embassy is in touch with top Bhutan officials as well, the statement added.