Death toll likely to reach 5,000: Nepal Consul general in Kol

Nepal's Consul General in Kolkata Chandra Kumar Ghimire today feared the death toll in the devastating earthquake could go up to 5,000.
"Yesterday, our (Nepal) Finance Minister has already said the death toll is likely to reach 5,000. It is one of the biggest natural disasters that Nepal has faced in eight decades. Not only lives and property but lot of heritage and architecture, which have been our identity, have been completely destroyed," Ghimire told PTI.
"We express our deepest gratitude towards India and its people who have stood like a rock beside us in this moment of crisis," he said.

Hit by severe shortage of food, water, electricity and medicines and buffeted by fear, tens of thousands of people are out in the open as quake-hit Nepal today desperately sought international help to tide over a looming crisis with death toll soaring over 3,700.
The Nepal Consulate in Kolkata today opened a bank account in Kolkata linked with the Disaster Relief Fund of Nepal's Prime Minister to receive cash deposits from donors.
"Today we have opened bank account opened in the United Bank of India (UBI), Dalhousie branch. This is dedicated and is linked with the Disaster Relief Fund of the Prime Minister's Office, Nepal.

"Those in Bengal and Kolkata who are interested in offering financial help, can deposit the money there," Ghimire told reporters here.
The Consul General also said his office was in touch with various chambers of commerce in Kolkata to streamline their support for relief.
"We have also opened a dedicated collection centre of relief material under the banner of Nepal Earthquake Relief Material Collection Centre. There will be two officials posted at the centre and the collected material will be transported by road and air to Nepal," Ghimire added.