New Delhi, September 2: India continues its extensive relief and rescue operations following devastating floods in Nepal. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 166 Indian citizens have been safely rescued, including three individuals saved on Wednesday. Additionally, 410 Indians who traveled to the Tibet Autonomous Region for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage have returned from China.
On Wednesday, India dispatched its fifth batch of relief supplies to Nepal. An Indian Air Force aircraft arrived in Kathmandu carrying approximately 5.5 tons of medical supplies, including antibiotics, pain relievers, surgical instruments, and other essential medications.
The aircraft also transported a specialized rescue team of 11 members along with over six tons of advanced rescue equipment. To date, India has provided nearly 74 tons of relief materials to Nepal.
The Indian Ambassador, Naveen Srivastava, handed over the relief supplies to the Nepalese government. This assistance is aimed at supporting relief efforts in areas affected by severe flash floods following the collapse of a glacier in Tibet on August 26.
The Indian tunnel rescue team has relocated its base from Trishuli to Syabrubesi, reducing the time needed to reach the Chilime tunnel. During a joint operation with the Nepalese army, the team successfully advanced approximately 100 meters into a tunnel filled with mud and debris.
The Ministry of External Affairs reported that efforts are underway to create a temporary road to facilitate heavy machinery access to the tunnel. Eleven specialists who arrived from India have reached near Trishuli Bazaar and will join the operation with the Nepalese army starting Thursday.
An Indian forensic team is collaborating with Nepalese experts in two laboratories in Kathmandu to analyze and identify DNA samples.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, as of Wednesday morning, 1,114 bodies have been recovered from the floods, while 3,916 individuals remain missing.
Nepal’s Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, emphasized in Parliament the need for the international community to seriously address the increasing threats posed by climate change in the Himalayan region. He stated that this disaster raises significant questions about Nepal’s future and the climate crisis.
Experts have indicated that a natural dam formed by an avalanche at Lengde Khola near the Nepal-China border broke, leading to severe flooding in the Bhotekoshi River, which caused widespread devastation in areas up to the Trishuli River.
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