Condoling the loss of lives in the devastating Nepal earthquake that has also affected parts of India, the central government on Monday said it is standing by its own people as well as the neighbouring Nepal in their hour of crisis.Addressing the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave the details of "Operation Mairti", the relief and rescue efforts that are currently underway, and assured the quake victims of "every possible help"."We condole the loss of lives here in India and Nepal. The people of Nepal are part of our family. I want to assure that India is with its people and with the people of Nepal in this hour of crisis," Singh said.
Hailing the promptness shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in responding to the crisis, Singh said a high-level meeting was immediately called to take stock of the situation and discuss relief operations.Saturday's earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, and its aftershocks in Nepal have left 3,218 people dead and 6,500 injured.The toll in India, where over 60 people died in the quake till Sunday, continues to rise as parts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have been affected by the temblor. A total of 1,935 Indians have been evacuated from earthquake-battered Nepal since Saturday.