Pranab Mukherjee speaks to Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav, assures fullest cooperation

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee tonight spoke to his Nepalese counterpart Ram Baran Yadav and expressed deep shock over the damage caused by the powerful earthquake which shook the neighbouring country.

Mukherjee spoke over telephone to Yadav and enquired about the latest situation and assessment of people killed in the earthquake, a statement from Rashtrapati Bhawan said.

The President assured Yadav of fullest cooperation and all possible assistance to Nepal from India, it said, adding that "people of India are with the people of Nepal in the hour of crisis."

He also condoled the death of those killed in the worst earthquake in 80 years.

Nearly 1,500 people were killed when quake measuring 7.9 on Richter scale, which was followed by 16 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater struck Nepal today.

The earthquake with epicentre at Lamjung, around 80 kms northwest of Kathmandu, had its impact in several cities in Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh as tremors were felt across vast stretches of east and northeast India.