A surgeon has arrived home to help victims of the South Asian earthquake.

Dr Mohsin Shakil had been working at Bradford Royal Infirmary for one month of a three-month cultural exchange from Kashmir when the tragedy struck.

He has returned to the region to assess the damage for himself and offer medical help to hundreds of injured people.

The 44-year-old surgeon, who specialises in urology, is now heading to Muzaffarabad after spending several days in Mirpur and Rawalpindi.

"I met a 15-year-old child who had had to bury 35 of his school friends," said Mr Shakil. "He was unharmed but it's a psychological trauma. The children I have met were really distressed and frightened."

As heavy rain and strong winds grounded helicopter flights at the weekend, relief agencies expressed concern about the weather's effects on the homeless - with children especially vulnerable.

"After things have settled we can get some kind of psychological counselling for these children," said Mr Shakil. "There are many people in England who specialise in this and who are interested in coming to work with these children. Some of these people contacted me when I was in Bradford."

The surgeon, who is getting by on two hours sleep a day, has made contact with many families of people in the district to pass on cash donations and he is helping to re-home refugees from Muzaffarabad, who have travelled to Mirpur for food and shelter. "Many people have reached Mirpur," said Mr Shakil. "We have set up reception camps and are helping people to reach their families.

"One of the places is an incomplete building but the people are really happy with it because they are cold and wet after staying in the open. Now they have shelter. They are really desperate.

"In Rawalpindi I met with young people - about 35 teenagers and volunteers. There are so many patients who do not have any close relatives so this group is looking after those people with no family."

Mr Shakil began work tending to the wounded in resettlement camps as soon as he arrived.

"The injuries were not too serious - they were minor injuries," he said. "But their wounds were not good. Many wounds were septic and infection had set in. We have some antibiotics here but we will have to evaluate Muzaffarabad.

"In Muzaffarabad international teams of doctors to deal with this particular job for disaster conditions are working in the hospitals. A group of 15 doctors arrived yesterday and are going to Rawalakot and other places."

A team of five doctors from Yorkshire was also due to arrive in the region at the weekend.

Mr Shakil, who has two teenage sons, is acting as a key link between the devastated region and people back here in Bradford.

"The people back in England are asking me for help on the ground so they can plan where and when to come. My priority is to streamline these helping hands," he said.

He will also be in touch with health chiefs in the Bradford district about the kind of medical supplies that are needed.