Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India stands with Nepal in its time of sorrow following the massive quake and will do its best to wipe the tear of every Nepali, hold their hand and be with them in this hour of tragedy.

In his monthly edition of Mann ki Baat radio address, Modi said he did not feel up to doing the radio address due to the natural disasters around, including the unseasonal hail storm and heavy rains in India which ruined the agricultural crop of many farmers.

He said Saturday’s “terrible earthquake has shaken the whole world”, and has claimed life and property in India too.

He said that the Nepal earthquake, which has claimed over 2,000 lives so far, was “really bad” and that he has seen the 2001 Kutch quake from close quarters.

“I can understand what the people of Nepal are going through. My dear brothers and sisters of Nepal, we are with you.”

He said India has started reaching assistance to Nepal, and sent rescue teams with sniffer dogs to save people buried in the rubble.

“We will try to bring out as many people. We are doing relief work and rehabilitation work till take a long time,” the prime minister said.

“For Indians, Nepal’s plight is our plight. We will wipe the tears of every Nepali, hold their hands and give them support,” Modi said.

The quake on Saturday claimed over 2,000 lives and destroyed large scale property in Nepal. There was a fresh quake and aftershocks reported in Nepal on Sunday.

The prime minister has called a high-level meeting on Sunday to review the relief and rescue operations in Nepal on Sunday afternoon.