'Dharmendra Pradhan is co-ordinating relief work in Bihar': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday informed that Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan is co-ordinating the relief work in Raxaul, Bihar, along with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Oil and security forces to help the people affected by the earthquake.

Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter to share this information.

"From Raxaul, Bihar, which is on the India-Nepal border my colleague @dpradhanbjp is co-ordinating relief work to help affected people," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

"In Raxaul, MEA, Indian Oil and Security Forces are facilitating the sending of affected people coming from Nepal back to their homes," he added.

Pradhan had earlier on Monday met the Indians affected by the earthquake in Nepal.

"Met Indian people affected by earthquake in Nepal in a Relief Camp at Raxual(East Champaran), Bihar," he tweeted yesterday.

72 people have been killed in India so far in the earthquake and aftershocks, with Bihar reporting the highest casualties. In Bihar, the death toll due to the earthquake has mounted to 58, with over 200 persons injured.

According to reports, around 4,000 people have so far lost their lives following Saturday's earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. 7,000 people have been reportedly injured and scores others missing

The calamity, one of the worst in over 80 years, was followed by 55 aftershocks.

Multi-nation rescue teams, including from India, are carrying out the relief and rescue work in Nepal. Armed with modern equipments, the disaster relief workers are trying to locate the possible survivors.