Situation 'absolutely normal' in quake-affected states in India, says Home Secretary

Home Secretary LC Goyal on Tuesday said that the situation in the earthquake affected states within India is absolutely normal, and no assistance of any kind has been sought from any of the state governments.

"I have been closely monitoring the situation in the affected states in the country, I would like to point out that situation is absolutely normal in the affected states within the country. There are 75 fatalities and 450 persons have sustained injuries. Out of this 58 are from Bihar, and our NDRF teams continue to be deployed there," Goyal said at a press briefing here.

"There is no assistance being sought of any kind from any of the affected states, we have assured them full assistance and full cooperation," he added.

Goyal pointed out that the government has also decided to depute three ministers to visit the affected areas and people in Bihar.

"Our Director General Sashastra Seema Bal today visited both Raxaul and Sanauli and 251 persons who are from foreign countries have entered into India through the land check post," he said.

Mathur pointed out that six more NDRF teams have joined the 10 teams already deployed in the quake ravaged country.

"There would be 16 teams of NDRF, and one team includes 45 persons. They are currently deployed in the Kathmandu valley; they are getting in touch with the local authorities to move beyond Kathmandu valley so that the rescue work can also be carried out in the other areas," he added.

Saturday's earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale, resulted in the deaths of over 5,000 people and was one of the worst calamities suffered by Nepal in over 80 years.

There is an acute shortage of food, water, electricity and medicines in Nepal. Locals in Kathmandu and other adjoining areas are spending their nights out in the open over fears of another earthquake.

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