India on Thursday night dispatched its sixth tranche of humanitarian assistance to flood-ravaged Nepal, sending more than 21 tonnes of essential relief supplies aboard two military transport aircraft as search and rescue operations continued following the devastating flash floods. The latest consignment was carried by two Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft and included medical supplies and forensic kits required for ongoing relief and identification efforts. With the latest dispatch, India has sent more than 74 tonnes of relief materials to Nepal since the disaster struck on August 26. The assistance has included medicines, food packets, temporary shelters, blankets, sleeping bags, hygiene kits, water purification tablets, portable generators and specialised technical equipment. India has also deployed doctors, paramedics, rescue personnel and technical teams to assist Nepalese authorities.
Specialised teams deployed
New Delhi’s assistance has extended beyond emergency supplies, with specialised Indian teams helping in difficult rescue operations in some of the worst-affected areas. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava said on Thursday that New Delhi had remained in close coordination with the Nepalese government since the first day of the disaster and was responding to requirements communicated by authorities.
India initially sent an 11-member team to assess requirements for rescuing people trapped in flooded tunnels. A 13-member specialised team was subsequently deployed, followed by another 11-member contingent carrying additional equipment. The teams have been positioned around Syaphrubesi and the Chilime area, where flooded hydropower tunnels have posed major challenges for rescue personnel.
India has also sent a 19-member team of forensic experts to assist with DNA analysis and identification of victims. The specialists are working with Nepal’s Central Forensic Science Laboratory. Equipment for modular Bailey bridges has also been sent to help restore connectivity in areas where roads and bridges have been destroyed.
Reconstruction help offered
India has indicated that its assistance could continue beyond the immediate rescue and relief phase into Nepal’s reconstruction and rehabilitation effort. Srivastava said Kathmandu was currently concentrating on search, rescue and relief operations but was expected to seek international assistance once it moved towards reconstruction. He said India, as Nepal’s closest neighbour and partner, would respond positively when such a request was made. The August 26 floods have caused widespread devastation across Nepal, destroying settlements and damaging roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.
More than 12,000 people have been rescued, while thousands remain missing as Nepalese authorities and international rescue teams continue operations in difficult terrain. India was among the first countries to respond to the disaster, with its first relief flight reaching Kathmandu on the night of August 26, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Nepalese counterpart Balendra Shah and assured him of all possible humanitarian assistance.