Aid being taken to an earthquake affected area in Kathmandu. (Agence France-Presse)
Britain's Nepalese community will hold prayers at London's iconic Trafalgar Square for those affected in the devastating earthquake which has killed over 4,000 people in Nepal.
'Pray for Nepal', a vigil prayer will be organised by London Universities' Nepali Society, which represents leading universities in the UK.
"We want to share our prayers for the safety of the people who are affected by the earthquake in Nepal," a spokesperson said, adding that they are encouraging people to donate solar and wind-up torches which would be sent to Nepal after today's prayers.
Their appeal today came as a Royal Air Force plane carrying aid supplies and British Army troops, including Gurkha engineers, left the UK for Nepal.
Dozens of British and Irish nationals remain untraced. The Disasters Emergency Committee comprising the UK's leading aid agencies are also issuing a televised appeal for donations on all major television channels in London.
The appeal is fronted by Britain's well-known Gurkha rights campaigner actress Joanna Lumley.
According to the United Nations, the massive earthquake in Nepal has affected eight million people, more than a quarter of the country's population.
The UK's Department for International Development has deployed a team of more than 60 search and rescue responders and medical experts to support the relief effort in Nepal.
The team, made up of seven search and rescue crews, four search and rescue dogs, a medical support team and a hazardous materials specialist, has reached Kathmandu.
The plane also contained more than 11 tonnes of kit including torches, axes, rope, search cameras, stretchers and tents.
The death toll in the devastating earthquake that has rocked Nepal climbed to over 4,350 today with more than 8,000 others injured, as Prime Minister Sushil Koirala admitted that the rescue and relief operations have not been effective.