New Delhi: The Catholic bishops in India have urged their people to reach all possible help to Nepal where a massive earthquake reportedly Saturday killed more than 4,000 people and wounded thousands.

Immediately after the 7.9 quake hit Nepal and India’s north and northeastern regions, the bishop’s social action arm, Caritas India, reached out its counterpart in the Himalayan kingdom to chalk out various ways to help.

Nepal has declared an internal emergency to cope up the disaster.

A team of experts from Caritas arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal capital, on Monday to set up a relief base even as fresh tremors continued to hit the region.

A press note from the Catholic aid agency said it would seek funds from various firms to reach relief to Nepal. Caritas Nepal Director Fr. Pius Perumana said they are waiting for the government to allot them area for reaching relief, the press note said.

Meanwhile a press release from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Sunday expressed deep shock over the disaster. The prelates mourned the deaths and shared the pain and anguish of those stranded in India and Nepal. Thousands of people now camp in the open because of the recurring tremors.

The bishops asked the faithful to reach all possible help to those affected in Nepal as well as the northeastern states of India.

On Sunday, Pope Francis expressed his deep sadness over the Nepal earthquake. In a telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, the Pope also expressed his solidarity with all those affected.

The telegram addressed to Bishop Paul Simick of Nepal said the Pope was “deeply saddened” to hear about the earthquake and the resultant loss of lives. Assuring his prayers for the deceased and wounded, the Pope offered encouragement to civil authorities and emergency personnel engaged in rescue works.

The major earthquake shook Nepal just before noon on Saturday, causing major damage to the densely-populated Kathmandu Valley.

The quake’s epicenter was 80 km northwest of the country’s capital, Kathmandu. The quake toppled a 100-year-old temple, split roads, and razed houses and buildings.

Among the damages is the Dharahara Tower, a national monument, built by Nepal’s royal rulers in the 1800’s.

The quake reportedly caused avalanches in the Mount Everest region of the Himalayas.

Vatican Radio spoke with Fr Perumana who said many houses in the tightly packed city have collapsed and survivors needed emergency medical care and shelter. “I managed to reach Kathmandu, though the roads were blocked…they are still searching for survivors. The reports are still coming in…The picture is not very clear,” he said.

On Monday, a Don Bosco Rescue team arrived at Lele village near Kathmandu to engage in rescue and relief works.

The team comprising two Salesians, staff members and a few hostel boys of Don Bosco Thecho Institute brought provisions such as shelter, food and clothing to distribute among the villages.

The village with some 150 families is located on a mountain and inhabited by people financially poor and easily vulnerable to natural calamities. The Salesian team reported that all families have lost their houses.

“As we reached the spot the whole village had gathered around us to get provisions no help had reached them from any quarters,” Fr Jijo, the team leader, reported.

This is Nepal’s second-worst earthquake since 1934, when an 8.0-magnitude quake destroyed three cities: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.