Nepal quake toll rises to over 2,500 (Third Lead)

The toll in the massive earthquake that devastated Nepal rose to over 2,500 on Sunday, the government said.

According to the police headquarters, as many as 777 people were killed in the capital Kathmandu alone, while 224 were killed in Bhaktapur.

The ministry of home affairs said 5,936 people were injured, according to reports received till 8.30 p.m. on Sunday.

A total of 11 districts were hit, of which the worst-affected were Kathmandu, Sindhupalchowk, Lalitpur, Gorkha and Bhaktapur.

The death toll in the three Kathmandu Valley districts -- Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur -- was 1,152 and 1,278 elsewhere.

The government said search and rescue operations were continuing and the toll may rise further.

Meanwhile, 22 bodies were recovered from the Mount Everest base camp after avalanches hit the slopes of the world's highest peak, the tourism ministry said on Sunday.

The bodies have been brought back to Kathmandu. Avalanches in Everest had killed 13 people in April 2014.

At least 217 tourists have been reported missing, the ministry said.

As many as 32 people were rescued from the base camp and airlifted to Kathmandu, while 29 were admitted to a hospital in Lukla.