Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviews the ongoing rescue and relief operations in earthquake affected areas of India with senior officials of the ministry.
The toll in Bihar rose to 45 this morning from Saturday's devastating earthquake, which had its epicenter in Nepal and affected the eastern part of India. So far, 58 people have died and 237 have been injured in the three states bordering Nepal -- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
In Uttar Pradesh, 11 people died 69 were injured, while in West Bengal, two persons died and 35 were injured.
In Bihar, most deaths were due to wall and building collapse. Sitamadhi, East Champaran and Darbhanga districts are among the worst-affected.
The damage in Bihar is not extensive, said Principal secretary, disaster management department, Vyas ji, appealing the people not to indulge in spreading rumours.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is monitoring the situation himself and has issued directives to ensure timely relief for those affected.
He has directed immediate dispatch of rescue and relief teams, including medical staff, to the affected areas.
The government has announced an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh to families of those who lost their lives in the earthquake.
The National Crisis Management Centre, headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, is meeting later today to take stock of the rescue and relief operations. Senior officials of the Prime Minister's Office, Cabinet Secretariat, Ministries of Home, Defence, External Affairs and others will attend the meeting.
Telephone service provider BSNL has said it will charge local rates for calls to Nepal for the next three days; Idea and Airtel are expected to follow suit.