New Delhi, April 30 (IANS): India is with the people of Nepal in this hour of distress, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday to the new Nepali envoy here.

Deep Kumar Upadhyay presented his credentials to President Mukherjee on Thursday at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In a meeting following the ceremony, Mukherjee said the envoy was assuming office at a "difficult time in the life of the people of Nepal".

He said the devastating earthquake has uprooted the life of a large number of people with huge casualties and tremendous suffering.

As soon as India got to know about the earthquake, it extended a hand of cooperation, said Mukherjee, adding he spoke to Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav and assured that India will do whatever possible to assist its close neighbour with whom it has had close relations for centuries, a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

Mukherjee said that Indians are with the people of Nepal in this hour of distress. They feel strongly for their brothers and sisters who have been affected by this tragedy. India hopes the situation will soon return to normalcy, he said.

Responding to the president's sentiments, the Nepalese envoy said his country is struggling to come to terms with the devastation caused by the earthquake and the support and sympathy of the government and people of India is a great source of strength for Nepal.

Nepal is grateful for the swift action by the government of India, he said, according to the statement.

Nepal was hit by a massive earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale on April 25, leaving over 5,000 people dead.