Polish sniffer dogs helping with rescue work in Nepal

Gordon has since April 27 successfully helped find four bodies from the debris following the devastating earthquake that hit this Himalayan nation on April 25.

Aged 10, Gordon is a golden Labrador sniffer dog who is part of a Polish rescue team in Nepal.

"He was part of the Haiti mission as well," his handler Tomasz Ciok told IANS in New Bus Park area here, while Gordon was busy munching on a food bar.

The Polish team consisting of 12 canines -- 10 :abradors and 2 German Shepherds -- landed here on April 27 and since then has been helping with the rescue work having found 10 people.

The devastating quake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale struck Nepal on April 25 forenoon.

"Our main idea is to look for people who are alive," rescuer Krystian Puczka told IANS.

He explained: "No rescue work is done by one dog, there are always two of them. So, when a dog finds something and he barks we send the other one to be doubly sure before we proceed with our work."

The team was sitting outside shops which have remained shut since the quake struck. The area, which is full of guesthouses for travellers and visitors, witnessed severe destruction.

"I am trying to take out whatever I can lay my hands on," a resident said while stretching out to take out a pair of green slippers from a building which looks nothing less than an unplanned pile of bricks.

The quake has killed 7,040 people, and left 14,087 injured while also rendering thousands homeless.