Death toll from Nepal earthquake climbs to 1896: government official

The death toll from a powerful earthquake which struck Nepal at midday on Saturday has climbed to 1, 896 including 723 in the Nepal's capital Kathmandu, a senior government official told Xinhua on Sunday morning.

"The number of death has reached 1, 896 so far. It can be increased as we are waiting for the more details about number of deaths and the ratio of damages from different districts," spokesperson for the Home Ministry Laxmi Prasad Dhakal said.

The Nepal government has intensified the rescue operation, the spokesperson said.

The powerful earthquake jolted central, western, mid-western and far-western parts of Nepal, leaving tens and hundreds of people injured and causing damage to properties worth over billion U.S. dollars. "We are yet to confirm the ratio of damage caused by the earthquake," Dhakal said.

The major 20 districts badly affected by the earthquake are capital city Kathmandu, Gorkha, Lamjung, Dhading, among others.

During their reporting, Xinhua Correspondents in Kathmandu witnessed thousands of deaths and the similar number of injured people in different hospitals based in the Kathmandu on Sunday morning.

According to the recent data obtained from the Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), a total of 130 people died in course of treatment while 15,00 people are still undergoing treatment.

Similarly, over 100 people died at Bir Hospital during the treatment and over 5, 00 are still receiving treatment. Endi