New Delhi, April 25 (IANS): Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday tweeted that he has directed officials to take steps to restore communication lines along the Indo-Nepal border.

"I have directed officials to take steps to restore communication lines in Indo-Nepal border. Monitoring the situation very closely," the minister tweeted.

Expressing his condolence to the families of those affected by the massive earthquake, Prasad said: "Extremely distressed over the massive earthquake in Nepal & India. My heart goes to those who lost their life. Prayers for injured & affected."

As many as 500 people were killed in a major earthquake -- measuring a staggering 7.9 on the Richter scale -- that rocked Nepal, a Nepalese official said

Deputy Chief of Mission of the Nepal High Commission in New Delhi, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, told media that according to local reports reaching here, at least 500 people have been killed across Nepal.