Rescue work scaled back

Officials say major tasks done in Kathmandu and international volunteers can return home

Nepal's government urged foreign rescue workers in the quake-hit capital to return home on Monday.

Information Minister Minendra Rijal said the major rescue work in Kathmandu and surrounding areas has been completed and the remaining operations can be handled by local workers. However, work remained in the villages and remote mountain areas, and foreign aid volunteers could work with local police and army rescuers in those areas, he said.

Since the April 25 7.9-magnitude earthquake, 4,050 rescue workers from 34 nations have flown to Nepal to provide emergency medical care, and distribute food and other necessities.

The death toll from the quake, Nepal's worst in more than 80 years, has reached 7,276, according to police.

Among the dead are 57 foreign nationals - 32 men and 25 women - according to the Tourist Information Center of the Department of Tourism.

Nepali police and local volunteers found the bodies of about 100 trekkers and villagers buried in an avalanche set off by last month's earthquake and were digging through snow and ice for signs of dozens more missing.

The bodies were recovered on Saturday and Sunday at the Langtang village, 60 kilometers north of Kathmandu, which is on a trekking route popular with Westerners. The entire village, which includes 55 guesthouses for trekkers, was wiped out by the avalanche, the official said.

The dead include at least seven foreigners, but only two had been identified, he said.

Hundreds of people visited Buddhist shrines and monasteries to mark the birthday of Gautama Buddha on Monday.

At the Swayambhunath shrine, on top of a hill overlooking Kathmandu, people chanted prayers as they walked around the hill where the white iconic stupa, with its gazing eyes, is located.

Some of the structures around the stupa, built in the 5th century, were damaged in the earthquake. Police blocked off the steep steps to the top of the shrine.

Pray for peace

"I am praying for peace for the thousands of people who were killed," said Santa Lama, a 60-year-old woman. "I hope there will be peace and calm in the country once again and the worst is over."

Authorities had to temporarily close Kathmandu's Tribhuwan International Airport to large aircraft delivering aid due to runway damage on Sunday, but UN officials said the situation was improving.

The airport was built to handle only medium-size jetliners, not large military and cargo planes that have been flying in aid supplies, food, medicines, and rescue and humanitarian workers, said Birendra Shrestha, the airport's manager.

A senior official at the department of tourism said Mount Qomolangma, known as Mount Everest in the West, remains open to climbers, despite the avalanches after the earthquake. At least 18 climbers were killed when a massive avalanche wiped out part of the base camp.

Nepal makes thousands of dollars from climbers and has hesitated over whether or not to close the mountain. On Monday, it was still leaving the decision to individual climbers who each pay $11,000 each to climb Qomolangma. A total of 357 were registered for this climbing season.

However, Sherpas in Nepal have refused to rebuild a climbing route on Qomolangma, a decision that will likely end this year's climbing season, according to The Associated Press.

Mountaineering teams have until the end of the month to climb the peak. Without the route being fixed, it may not be possible for them to make their climbs. The Sherpas play a crucial role by bringing the ladders, ropes and equipment needed to clear the trail.

AP - Xinhua - Reuters