The Russian Emergency Situations' Ministry is sending the first two aircraft with rescuers to Nepal to help mitigate the effects of a powerful earthquake, Deputy Minister Vladimir Stepanov told reporters on Sunday.

The Russian Emergency Situations' Ministry is sending the first two aircraft with rescuers to Nepal to help mitigate the effects of a powerful earthquake, Deputy Minister Vladimir Stepanov told reporters on Sunday.

"The first two aircraft will leave today," he said adding that the time of departure is being finalized.

He said the planes will carry rescuers with ample experience of mitigating earthquake impacts, including mountainous areas, and also doctors and psychologists. "We are also sending a team with Russian equipment for examining buildings," he said.

An earthquake measuring 7.9 points on the Richter scale occurred on Saturday near Katmandu. The latest reports say some 2,000 people died.

The Times of India reports that there was an earthquake measuring 6.7 points 17 kilometers to the south of Kodari on Sunday. Underground tremors are also felt in several Indian cities.

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