'Govt. working actively to offer relief to Nepal': V.K. Singh

Minister of State for External Affairs General (retired) V.K. Singh, who flagged off relief materials for quake-hit Nepal today, said the government is working actively to assist the neighbouring nation.

"The government is working actively to offer relief to Nepal. But as a citizen it is our responsibility as well to support the government in helping Nepal," General (retired) Singh said.

"The situation is such that the people, who have lost their homes, must be given relief immediately. The government is trying its best to evacuate the people," he added.

The former army chief later took to Twitter to share this information.

"Sent off the 1st batch of aid material collected by supporters. Hoping 2send more in the coming days. Donate as much as u can #IndiaWithNepal," he tweeted.

At least 4,352 bodies have reportedly been recovered so far after Saturday's devastating earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale.

There is an acute shortage of food, water, electricity and medicines in Nepal. The locals in Kathmandu and other adjoining areas are spending their nights in the open as they fear another quake.

Hundreds of people are still trapped under tonnes of rubble in Kathmandu and some of the worst-affected remote mountainous areas in the quake-ravaged country.

India is doing everything possible to maximise the relief and minimise the tribulations faced by the neighbouring nation.

More than 700 disaster relief experts drawn from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed by India, which has mounted massive relief operations as part of 'Operation Maitri'. Relief material weighing 8,200 kilograms were distributed by choppers and the Indian Air Force.

India has also sent a team of senior officials from the ministries of Home, Defence, External Affairs and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to co-ordinate the rescue and relief operations. The team is monitoring the evacuation of stranded Indians in Nepal. Nearly 5,400 Indians have been brought back so far.

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