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KATHMANDU. — Rescue and aid workers in Nepal struggled to gain the upper hand yesterday against the devastation dealt by Saturday’s powerful earthquake — digging through rubble by hand, performing surgeries in makeshift operating theatres, scouring notoriously difficult terrain for more victims.

But power blackouts in the capital city of Kathmandu, supply shortages and difficulties getting around complicated the efforts.

By nightfall, at least 3 954 people were known dead in Nepal, India and China as a result of the earthquake.

Nepalese officials say more than 7 000 were injured.

CNN’s Dr Sanjay Gupta said doctors at one Kathmandu hospital had moved patients from the 120-year-old building and into another structure, where they were operating on patients in rooms normally not used as operating theatres. — CNN.