Death toll rising rapidly, PM Narendra Modi promises all help possible

Over 400 are so far known to have died in a massive earthquake of 7.9 magnitude which hit large parts of Nepal on Saturday, the government said. Five people are reported dead so far in Bihar; tremors were felt across large swathes of Northern India including Delhi.

"In Kathmandu 71 have been reported dead so far," Home Ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal told news agency AFP. Another 43 had been reported dead in the nearby Bhaktapur district, he added.

This was the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in 80 years. The capital of Kathmandu has been left devastated by a huge earthquake of 7.9 magnitude which pushed buildings into collapse, turned iconic landmarks into rubble, and left many injured.

At the main hospital in Kathmandu, people with broken limbs and arms were being rushed in for treatment. It was unclear how many people were injured.

The historic Dharara Tower built in the 19th century in Kathmandu collapsed, trapping at least 50 people, Nepal media reported. The tower had been open to visitors for the last 10 years and had a viewing balcony on its eighth floor. Witnesses spoke of dead bodies being removed from the site.

Photographs from Kathmandu posted online showed buildings left in rubble, large cracks along roads and residents sitting in the street holding babies.

Mountaineer Alex Gavan tweeted from Mount Pumori, about 8 km west of Mount Everest, that the quake had caused an avalanche on Everest.

"Everest base camp huge earthquake then huge avalanche from pumori. Running for life from my tent. Unhurt. Many many people up the mountain," tweeted Gavan.