Nine out of 10 Nepalese troops are said to be involved in search and rescue operations, as the country pleads for more foreign aid to deal with a massive earthquake that killed 4,000 people.
Almost the entire army and police has joined the quake effort, officials say.
China, India, the UK and US are among those sending aid from abroad. Nepal says it needs everything from blankets and helicopters to doctors and drivers.
Some 200 climbers stranded by the quake on Mount Everest are being rescued.
About 60 of the climbers had been brought to safety by helicopters on Monday, according to Tulsi Gautam, the chief of Nepal's tourism agency.
He told the BBC that helicopters were only ferrying two people at a time because of the risk of flying at such a high altitude. The climbers had been unable to leave the mountain because of avalanches triggered by the earth tremors.
The quake is now known to have injured at least 7,000 people. Vast tent cities have sprung up in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, for those displaced or afraid to return to their homes. Several aftershocks have been reported - the latest on Monday night.
Across the country, thousands are camping outside for the third night since the quake struck on Saturday. There are shortages of water, food and electricity, while disease is also a concern.
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