COLLEAGUES of a Shipley worker trapped in a remote village struck by Nepal's earthquake are anxiously waiting for news.

Incommunities accounts clerk Bimala Shankhar had been visiting family 20 miles from Kathmandu when Saturday's earthquake hit, injuring her father.

Ms Shankhar, 39, managed to contact work for help after using all her of own money to buy supplies for people in her village who were too scared to return to their homes and living in makeshift shelters.

Colleagues rallied round and within days have raised more than £1,000 - £800 of it has already been sent through Moneygram to buy rice, water and other basic essentials in scarce supply.

But more tremors early yesterday have silenced any other contact, frustrating staff at Incommunities' head office in Shipley who are anxious for news from her.

Finance director Phil Canham yesterday said: "We know from Bimala that her dad is okay. He was hurt but will be fine. We don't have too much detail about exactly what happened when the earthquake struck but we can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for her. She sent us an e-mail to ask if we could help and the response has been staggering from our staff wanting to help Bimala and Nepal."

But he added: "They have suffered a series of after-shocks and that's making it a struggle to physically get more money to her at the moment, a lot of places to send money to and to buy provisions are closing down but we will keep up the fundraising here.

"We haven't heard anymore from her since the after-shocks about 3am her time yesterday. People are having to save any battery-power they have left for crisis calls only."

Ms Shankhar had also been planning to carry out some voluntary work during her time in Nepal but was met with disaster first hand, said Incommunities Group Chief Executive Geraldine Howley.

"We are keeping in close contact with Bimala but communications have been badly affected," she said.

More than 6,000 people were killed in the worst earthquake to hit the country in 80 years and at least 14,000 have been injured.

Three RAF CH47 Chinook helicopters are being sent to Nepal over the coming days, the first of which left RAF Brize Norton yesterday aboard a commercial freight plane.

So far more than £26 million has been raised from public donations via the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which is co-ordinating the aid efforts of the UK's leading charities.

The Government has also pledged £15m, as well as £2.5m to the UN's Humanitarian Air Service, which will increase helicopter capacity and help aid get to more remote areas.

People can visit www.dec.org.uk to donate to the Nepal Earthquake Appeal.