Thousands of homeless villagers in the Himalayas spent a miserable night outdoors in heavy rains after a powerful earthquake flattened houses and rescuers struggled to reach victims in the mountains of India, Nepal and Tibet.

The triple bombing that killed 17 in the heart of India's financial capital has sparked anger over the government's inability to prevent terror strikes despite overhauling security forces after the 2008 Mumbai siege.

A bomb exploded on a crowded passenger train in northern India today, killing at least 10 people and injuring 49, a railway official said.