KATHMANDU, APR 29 - The death toll from the Great Earthquake has reached 4,769 and as of Tuesday night while the number of injured in the tragedy has stands at 8,547.
The highest number of casualty has been reported in the central region with the toll reaching 2,885. According to the National Emergency Operation Centre, 1,448 people have been killed in Kathmandu Valley––1,039 in Kathmandu, 250 in Bhaktapur and 159 in Lalitpur. As many as 384 deaths have been reported from the western region, 49 from the East and two from the mid-western region.
The bodies of 3,982 victims have been handed over to their relatives while police are working to trace the relatives of unclaimed bodies.
Although the victims, mainly from the severely affected districts of Sindhu-palchok, Rasuwa, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Nuwakot, Gorkha and Dhading, have complained of delay in rescue and relief, the government has claimed that 5,300 people have received medical care in the past three days while around 1,000 are undergoing treatment in hospitals.
The Nepal Army, which has been leading the relief and rescue operation, has said that around 9,000 kilograms of relief materials have been distributed in 11 districts.
The NA and the National Disaster Respond Fund (NDRF) of the Indian Army have so far airlifted 703 injured from the seven most affected districts in addition to 157 people from the Valley.
Owing to inclement weather on Tuesday, the NA and the NDRF could only airlift 138 injured to the Capital from several quake-hit districts. They have been carrying out search and rescue operation using 12 helicopters.
The NA said it has deployed 90 percent of its force in operation ‘Sankat Mochan’. Hundreds of army personnel from different countries and 17,000 Armed Police Force officials support the mission.
Following widespread criticisms about inadequate response, Army chief Gaurav SJB Rana held consultations with Tourism Minister Deepak Amatya and ambassadors from various countries on Tuesday to improve the mission in the coming days.
Twelve countries have deployed civilian and military support to Nepal in the wake of the disaster with China and the US pledging to increase the support shortly.
8m affected by quake: UN
Eight million people in 39 districts have been affected, of which over 2 million people live in the 11 severely affected districts in Nepal, said the UN.
Priority needs include food, water, shelter and medication, it said on Tuesday, adding that over 1.4 million are in need of food aid. Seventy-five percent of them are considered to be outside the Capital.
Rain predicted for the next 10 days increases the risk of post-disaster diseases, adding to misery, hampering relief efforts, the UN said. This includes the number of households living in poor quality and vulnerable homes with outer walls and/or foundations made of substandard material, said the UN agency.
According to early indications, 1.4 million people are in need of food assistance. Of these, 750,000 people live near the epicentre in poor housing.
Immediate needs for health include tents, medication, surgical kits and body bags.
Source : Ekantipur