The death toll from Nepal's devastating earthquake rose to 6250 on Friday as fresh aftershocks and the stench of rotting bodies made it hard for nervous survivors to return to their homes.

Disposal of the hundreds of bodies still being found six days after the 7.9 magnitude quake devastated the Himalayan nation of 28 million people was becoming a problem for officials, who have ordered immediate cremations.

Aid was slowly beginning to reach remote towns and villages nestled in the mountains and foothills but the overpowering smell of bodies trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings in the capital was making it hard for residents to return to their homes.

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Will continue rescue operations in Nepal for as long as it takes, says MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup

Over 11,300 Indians have come back from quake-hit Nepal via routes through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand, the government has said even as it underlined that it would continue to support rescue operations in the Himalayan country for "as long as it takes".

#OperationMaitri Indian helicopters made 58 sorties today, dropped 38 tonnes of relief material, rescued 98 injured and 297 stranded. — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) May 1, 2015

Red Cross warns of total devastation near Nepal quake epicentre

The Red Cross warned on Friday that nearly all homes had been wiped out in some towns and villages near the epicentre of Nepal's devastating earthquake.

Condition of NH-28 hampering relief to Nepal; repair work on war footing

The National Highway Authority of India has undertaken the repair work of the dilapidated National Highway-28 between Motihari and Raxaul, bordering Nepal, on a war-footing.

One thousand Europeans missing, 12 dead after Nepal quake

One thousand people from the EU are missing in Nepal and 12 are confirmed dead, nearly a week after a devastating earthquake, the head of the EU delegation here said on Friday.

Over 2,50,000 buildings damaged in Nepal earthquake

The 7.9-magnitude Saturday earthquake, the country's worst in over eight decades, completely damaged 1,38,182 houses across Nepal and partially damaged 1,22,694 other homes.

Foreign Secretary, NSA ask agencies to focus on rescue work in remote areas

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who arrived in earthquake-hit Kathmandu on Friday, said the rescue operations in remote areas should be given priority and added that the relief materials should reach the victims in time.

The duo, who conducted an aerial survey, also directed all the Indian agencies to carry the relief and rescue operations in full swing in the quake ravaged nation.

Doval praised the rescue operations carried out by different groups.

“We went for an aerial survey and there is a lot of destruction, but the rescue operations by Nepalese Army and Indian are properly conducted,” he said.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar review NDRF rescue operations.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae visits a Field Hospital being run by the rapid action medical team.

#NepalEarthquake Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae visiting a Field Hospital being run by the RAMT. @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/ner91xdoxC — Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) May 1, 2015

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar & Ajit Doval reaches Kathmandu to oversee relief operation.

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived in Kathmandu to oversee the relief operations being carried out in earthquake-hit Nepal by India.

The duo will assess the rescue and relief efforts launched under ‘Operation Maitri’ to aid Nepal.

The Indian Army is on a war footing in Nepal. Personnel of the Indian Army and NDRF, who have stepped up their efforts to reach the far-flung areas devastated by the quake, are constantly providing all relief materials besides giving medical aid to those injured.

Need at least $2 billion to rebuild homes: FM Ram Sharan Mahat

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said Nepal would need at least $2 billion to rebuild homes, hospitals, government offices and historic buildings and appealed for help from international donors.

"This is just an initial estimate and it will take time to assess the extent of damage and calculate the cost of rebuilding," Mahat told Reuters.

Backround:

8 million people affectd: UN

The United Nations has said 8 million people had been affected, with at least 2 million in need of tents, water, food and medicines over the next three months.

A home ministry official said the death toll had risen to 6,134, with 13,906 injured.

Information Minister Minendra Rijal said the government would provide $1,000 in immediate assistance to the families of those killed, as well as $400 for cremation or burial.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala told Reuters earlier this week the death toll from the quake could reach 10,000.

That would surpass the 8,500 who died in a 1934 earthquake, the last disaster on this scale to hit the Himalayan nation sandwiched between India and China.

(With Reuters inputs)