Pak PM calls up Modi to offer quake comfort

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to condole the loss of lives in India in the recent earthquake.

“Got a call from PM Nawaz Sharif. He expressed condolences on the loss of lives in various parts of India due to the earthquake,” Modi tweeted.

Sharif also appreciated India’s efforts in the rescue operations in Nepal, Modi said, adding he thanked the Pakistan leader for his “kind words”.

The praise comes a day after the Pak PM slammed India for failing to respond to Pakistan's desire for good relations.

During the conversation, Modi said he suggested to Sharif that SAARC nations should conduct regular joint exercises on disaster relief and rescue.

“SAARC nations can come together and hold annual exercises of rescue teams, doctors etc on how we can minimise damage during natural disasters,” the Indian PM said.

“PM Sharif appreciated this idea and told me that we should take up such an initiative,” he said in another tweet.

The two PMs also discussed the unseasonal rains and its adverse impact on the crops.

Nepal was hit by a massive earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale on April 25, killing over 5,000 people. The toll due to the earthquake in India has gone up to 78.

Image: Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture with a message ‘We pray for you -- we are with you’ for Nepal earthquake victims at Puri beach in Odisha. Photograph: PTI