By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, APRIL 25, 2015: THE earthquake that had its epicentre close to Kathmandu and measured 7.7 on Richter Scale, had done a great deal of damage in several States in India too. As per the latest report till 8 PM more than 700 people were killed in Nepal. Rescue workers recovered 180 bodies from the debris of famous Nepal Tower.

As per the Govt of India, 34 deaths have been confirmed so far with 23 deaths in Bihar, eight in Uttar Pradesh and three in West Bengal. In order to deal with the situation in the affected States, five teams of National Disaster Response Force( NDRF) have already been sent; one team to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and one each to Darbhanga, Supaul, Motihari and Gopalganj in Bihar.

Each team of NDRF consists of 45 personnel who are fully equipped with the modern equipments to deal with search and rescue operations. The team also includes medical and para-medics. The teams have equipments such as live detector machines, cutters which can cut steel, concrete and wood. There are sniffer dogs in these teams. Hence the teams are self-sufficient to deal with all aspects involved in search and rescue operations after an earthquake.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) in the Cabinet Secretariat has already met and reviewed the situation through video-conferencing with the Chief Secretaries of affected States. The NCMC will be meeting regularly to take stock of the situation and the relief measures. The Central Government ise in constant touch with the States and monitoring the situation very closely. The States will be provided with all possible help from the Central Government.

Control Rooms 24X7 have been set up both in MHA and NDMA with following number:-011- 2309 3564, 23093566 (MHA Control Room ), 011-26701728, 26701729, 9868881801(M) – (NDMA Control Room) Meanwhile , an inter Governmental coordination cell has been set up in Cabinet Secretariat which will coordinate all relief measures for Nepal as well as for Indian States. This will function on round-the-clock basis and the phone numbers are :- 011- 2301 6633, 2379 2281.

Meanwhile, the President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee has conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to those affected and sincere wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured on account of earthquake in India and Nepal today.