Authorities said the death toll of the quake that hit just before midnight on Friday, Nepal time, was expected to rise, noting that communications were cut off in many places.<\/p>\n
As day broke, rescue helicopters flew into the region to help out and security forces on the ground were digging out the injured and dead from the rubble, Nepal police spokesman Kuber Kadayat said.<\/p>\n
Troops were also clearing roads and mountain trails that were blocked by landslides triggered by the earthquake. Helicopters flew in medical workers and medicines to the hospitals there.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal flew in on a helicopter with a team of doctors. Dahal led an armed communist revolt in 1996-2006 that began from the districts that were hit by the quake.<\/p>\n
Dahal, posting on X, formerly Twitter, expressed deep sorrow at the loss of life and property and ordered security agencies to launch immediate rescue and relief operations.<\/p>\n
Local media footage showed crumbled facades of multistorey brick houses, with large pieces of furniture scattered. Videos on X showed people running into the street as some buildings were evacuated.<\/p>\n
\u201cHouses have collapsed. People rushed out of their homes. I am out in the crowd of terrified residents. We are trying to find details of damage,\u201d police official Santosh Rokka said by phone.<\/p>\n
In Jajarkot district, where the quake\u2019s epicentre was, 92 people were confirmed dead and another 55 injured, Kadayat said.<\/p>\n
At least 36 people were killed and 85 injured in neighbouring Rukum district, where numerous houses collapsed.<\/p>\n
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