The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country would try its best to “wipe the tears” of the people of Nepal in the wake of a deadly earthquake in his radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday.  

The quake, measuring 7.9 on the richter scale, shook the tiny Himalayan country on April 26 and has caused large scale devastation.

More than 4000 people are believed to have died and the country’s PM Sushil Koirala has said that the toll might cross 10000.

According to the United Nations eight million people have been affected – more than a quarter of the country’s population.

The tremors were even felt at Delhi as the quake also affected a few Indian states including Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, killing 54 and injuring 240.

Modi said that the immediate priority was to rescue as many people as possible who are trapped under debris and the relief and rehabilitation work will go on for a long time.

India has launched a relief and aid initiative called ‘Operation Maitri’ (Operation Friendship) to extend help to its neighbouring country.