The death toll from Nepal's earthquake has risen to 7,040, the country's National Emergency Operation Centre said Saturday, NBC News reported. The U.N. has estimated the quake affected 8.1 million people — more than a fourth of Nepal's population of 27.8 million. Meanwhile, top aid officials and military officers warned that more helicopters are desperately needed to get assistance to the farthest reaches of the country. Twenty-eight countries are helping in the rescue effort, but "there are 20 helicopters operating here, most of them Indian," Air Vice Marshal Upkarjit Singh of the Indian Air Force told NBC News. There could be some relief in sight: The Nepali army said it would be receiving eight additional military helicopters over the weekend.
