PM Modi thanks Sharif for appreciating India's efforts to help Nepal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday thanked his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif for appreciating India's efforts to help quake ravaged Nepal.

"Got a call from PM Nawaz Sharif. He expressed condolences on the loss of lives in various parts of India due to the Earthquake. PM Nawaz Sharif appreciated India's efforts in the rescue operations in Nepal. I thank him for his kind words," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

"PM Sharif appreciated this idea and told me that we should take up such an initiative. PM Sharif and I also discussed the unseasonal rains and its adverse impact on the crops," he said in another tweet.

Prime Minister Modi further said that he suggested his Pakistani counterpart to conduct joint exercises of the SAARC nations on disaster relief and rescue.

"I suggested to PM Sharif that SAARC nations should conduct regular joint exercises on disaster relief and rescue. SAARC Nations can come together and hold annual exercises of rescue teams, doctors etc on how we can minimize damage during natural disasters," he said.

Meanwhile, the death toll due to the earthquake in Nepal has now climbed over 5,200. The figure may go up when the rescuers reach the remote areas.

Heavy rain affected the relief and rescue operations in places including Kathmandu. As a result, multi-national rescue teams found it difficult to locate survivors of the disaster.

However, aid has now begun reaching the remote regions.