NEW DELHI, Apr 29 (Agencies) : Even as Nepal premier Sushil Koirala said that he feared the death toll following last Saturday's quake could be closer to 10,000, the focus of Indian rescue and relief efforts has shifted to the interiors where connectivity has been affected and could take days to restore.
The weather played truant, choppers have been deployed towards the epicentre of the earthquake as reports of mass destruction of villages emerged. More than 16 Indians are feared dead in Nepal itself, including a group of eight from Assam.
In India, the toll has crossed 75, mainly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where the most powerful jolts of the Saturday quake were felt. India has intensified efforts in interior Nepal after chopper sorties over the past two days have given a grim picture of the damage.
"We have evacuated 741 Nepalese citizens who had been injured in the quake through choppers," Defence Secretary RK Mathur said, adding that a rescue effort was also made on Mt Everest from where 19 people have been lifted out.
Several tons of aid material has also been air dropped while the Army has activated three field hospitals. While air operations to Kathmandu were limited on Tuesday, a total of 2,867 Indians have been evacuated by the air force. India has received requests for assistance from several nations whose citizens are stranded or missing in Nepal.
New Delhi has already assisted in the evacuation of 170 nationals from 15 countries, including 71 from Spain, from the quake-hit nation.
"We are rescuing people, irrespective of their nationalities," Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said.
Army HQ officials said its men have been able to reach many interior areas and even Barpak in Gorkha district which has been cited as the epicentre. However, some areas near Gorkha are currently relying on air support as they are not connected through a motorable route.
The Indian Army plans to continue relief and rescue operations till normalcy is restored. Officials also said that its 30 member Everest expedition team will continue to stay at the base camp as long as needed to assist in the evacuation process.