Israeli PM calls Narendra Modi, lauds India's relief, rescue efforts in Nepal

Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Narendra Modi on Thursday and offered condolences on the loss of lives due to earthquake in India.

Netanyahu also lauded India for extending relief and rescue efforts in Nepal and also helping Israeli nationals.

PM Modi posted about his talk with Israeli PM on micro-blogging site Twitter:

"I spoke to PM Netanyahu, who had called to extend condolences on the loss of lives due to the Earthquake.

“My gratitude to PM Netanyahu for his kind words on India's relief and rescue efforts in Nepal including help extended to Israeli nationals.”

I spoke to PM @netanyahu, who had called to extend condolences on the loss of lives due to the Earthquake.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2015

My gratitude to PM @netanyahu for his kind words on India's relief & rescue efforts in Nepal including help extended to Israeli nationals.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2015

Five days after a powerful earthquake jolted Nepal, its capital is slowly limping back to normalcy, with shops opening in several areas and electricity being restored partially in the quake-hit country.

There is also buzz on the road and supply of basic food items like milk and petrol is being gradually restored to Nepalese, who have been grappling with shortage of basic necessities since Saturday when the temblor struck.

However, it will take days for several far-flung areas to get back to normal because of the large-scale devastation.

In Kathmandu, which has seen the maximum deaths, shops have started opening and electricity is being restored in several places - something which was missing over the past few days after the disaster.

The number of pyres burning at the Pashupatinath ghat along on the entire stretch of the Bagmati river, too, have seen a dip.

According to P V Chand, in-charge of policy and planning and international coordination committee of the Ministry of Health and Population, there were around 30,000 people in 16 camps spread across the Kathmandu Valley after the quakes, but now the figure has reduced to 23,000, as per PTI.

 Educational institutions have been asked to remain shut for 15 days more but the period could extend even further.

(With Agency inputs)