Four earthquakes struck Nepal on Tuesday afternoon in quick succession
An Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter took off from capital Kathmandu for a recce of Namche Bazaar, the entrance to the Everest region, as four earthquakes struck Nepal on Tuesday afternoon in quick succession.
The US Geological Survey said the first and most powerful quake today, of magnitude 7.3, struck 68 km west of the town of Namche Bazaar.
India has said it is on the ready to provide all support, as early reports came in that 16 people have died in Nepal in today's quake. Tremors also shook West Bengal, Delhi and several parts of
north India and three people are reported killed in Bihar as buildings collapsed.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took stock of the situation at a high level meeting and also tweeted, "Directed all concerned authorities to be on alert for carrying out rescue and relief operations, as required," the PM tweeted.
"India is ready to provide all the support which Nepal would require," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, adding, "The Home Ministry is collecting details and information about any damage from earthquake in India. NDRF has been placed on alert."
The Home Minister also called up India's Ambassador to Nepal Ranjeet Ray and took stock of the situation in the Himalayan nation.
Less than three weeks ago, on April 25, Nepal was struck by a giant earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter Scale and killed over 8,000 people in Nepal. Nearly 80 people were also killed in India, mostly in Bihar, which borders Nepal.
India had reacted swiftly on April 25, dispatching its first rescue teams to Nepal within hours. 16 teams of the NDRF had been sent, while the Indian Air Force deployed 13 aircraft for rescue and relief operations.