Nepal quake death toll could reach 10,000 – PM

Nepal’s prime minister has warned that the number of people killed in the country’s worst earthquake in decades may reach 10,000.Sushil Koirala’s comment on Tuesday came as rescuers in Nepal were struggling to reach remote communities.With the UN estimating eight million people have been hit by the disaster, Koirala said getting help to some of the worst affected areas was a “major challenge”.He said authorities were overwhelmed by appeals for help from remote Himalayan villages left devastated by Saturday’s 7.8-magnitude quake.Mass cremations took place overnight after the government ordered the continuous burning of the bodiesto prevent the spread of diseases.Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, home ministry spokesperson, said on Tuesday the official death toll had risen to 4,310, with a further 7,953 known to have been injured.