Body bags, tents, water: Nepal officials appeal for aid as death toll tops 2,400

Aid groups and governments worldwide have intensified efforts to help earthquake-hit Nepal, but blocked roads, downed power lines and overcrowded hospitals pose formidable challenges. As the death toll in the Himalayan nation surpassed 2,300, the U.S. together with European and Asian nations sent emergency crews to reinforce those scrambling to find survivors in the devastated capital Kathmandu and in cut-off rural areas. A lack of electricity will soon be complicated by a scarcity of water, aid groups said, with medical supplies also dwindling

We witnessed terrible scenes of destruction – hospitals were evacuated with patients being treated on the ground outside, homes and buildings demolished and some roads cracked wide open.

Eleanor Trinchera, Caritas Australia programme coordinator for Nepal

A U.S. disaster response team is en route with an initial $1 million in aid, the US Agency for International Development said. Australia and New Zealand together pledged more than $4.5 million, and South Korea promised $1 million in humanitarian aid. India dispatched two military transport planes as it emerged that at least 53 people had died there from the effects of the massive quake. Russia said two of its planes would fly out Sunday, carrying specialist rescuers, doctors and psychologists as well as equipment including helicopters and drones.

World Nepal aid