Nepal earthquake: Mount Everest avalanche kills an Indian mountaineer

New Delhi: Her passion for mountaineering knew no bounds but it ended in a tragedy when she perished in the avalanche triggered by the earthquake in Nepal during her maiden attempt to scale Mount Everest.

49-year-old Renu Fotedar, who hailed from Srinagar and is now settled in Australia, was among several mountaineers consumed by the killer avalanche. Like many Kashmiri Pandit migrants, Renu's journey from the Valley took here to Delhi before she migrated to Australia after her marriage.

A lover of adventure sports, Renu had climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania last year before embarking on her ambitious plan to conquer the world's highest peak — Mt Everest. Known to be chirpy among her circle of friends, Renu posted her last picture on Facebook along with her Japanese friends as she set out to climb Mt Everest.

Read: Earthquake toll in India rises to 72

Meanwhile, helicopters were deployed on Monday to rescue climbers still stranded high on Mount Everest. Three helicopters were sent for about 150 climbers trapped at Camps One and Two after Saturday’s avalanche sent down slabs of ice and snow, cutting them off from base camp below, the Nepalese officials said.

Pashupatinath Temple unharmed

The famous 5th century Pashupatinath Temple here has survived the massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake that flattened several world heritages like iconic Dharhara tower and Darbar Square in Nepal. “The Pashupatinath Temple is safe, we have checked the shrine many times and it has developed no cracks,” a devotee said.

The temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu whose existence dates back to 400 AD. Many people have taken shelter in the temple as they “feel it is the safest place to be during this devastating time.”

Read: Tryst with tragedy: Will they return safe?

Indian dogs find buried victims

Rescue teams on Monday deployed specially trained dogs from India, France and Spain for locating victims buried under tonnes of debris following the devastating earthquake in Nepal.

A team of 15 personnel and six dogs were brought from France and Spain. India has sent a team of NDRF. Dogs are also part of the entourage to help locate victims buried under the debris.

Sakshi links quake to Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Kedarnath temple

Congress on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah alleging “motor mouth offenders” of the ruling party were trying to “communalise and politicise” a grave human tragedy after MP Sakshi Maharaj reportedly ascribed the earthquake in Nepal to Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Kedarnath temple.

“It will be better if the PM and Amit Shah stop perpetuating rabid politics that has now reached the stage of denigrating even Bhagwan Kedarnath,” Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev said.

Read: Spain seeks India’s help in getting its nationals out of Nepal

Nepal ‘rejected’ aid, says Taiwan

Taiwan’s foreign minister said on Monday that the government of Nepal had rejected its offer of a 20-man rescue team, but denied diplomatic pressures were behind the decision.

The Taipei-based crew was put on standby on Sunday with much of the Nepalese capital in ruins and more than 3,500 confirmed dead, but were told aid was being prioritised from neighbouring countries.

“The Nepalese told us that it would first accept such aid from neighbouring countries like India and Pakistan,” minister David Lin said.