Nepal to pay $2,400 to each earthquake victim

Nepalese authorities have launched a program to help victims of the devastating earthquake that killed about 160 people and left thousands homeless.

It was decided at a cabinet meeting to provide financial support to the families of the victims and survivors of the disaster, TASS reports, citing The Kathmandu Post newspaper.

"It was decided at the meeting to allocate 200,000 rupees [slightly over $2,400] to each family of those who died because of the earthquake," Nepal's Minister of Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma told reporters after the meeting.

According to the newspaper, Health and Population Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet, in turn, said that rescue operations are nearing completion and hospitals in all places, including Kathmandu, are on standby for patients. The Nepal government has also decided to provide free medical aid to the affected people. According to the minister, the distribution of aid to be received from foreign countries will be discussed in the next meeting.

According to the latest police figures, 157 people were killed and more than 200 injured due to the earthquake that struck around midnight last Friday. Underground tremors were also felt in India's capital New Delhi. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the magnitude of the quake at 5.6, while the Indian Seismological Center estimated it at 6.4. The earthquake caused great damage to property.