New Delhi, August 27: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that India will send a Bailey bridge to assist Nepal in its rescue and relief operations following devastating floods. The sudden flooding in Nepal on Wednesday resulted in hundreds of fatalities and widespread destruction.
During a press briefing in New Delhi regarding the disaster in Nepal, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India has dispatched 47.5 tons of relief supplies to Nepal via two aircraft.
Jaiswal elaborated on the aid sent to Kathmandu, saying, “Two planes carrying humanitarian assistance have been dispatched to Kathmandu. A C-130J aircraft took off last night around 8:30 PM, carrying 10 tons of relief materials, including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and medicines. This morning, a C-17 aircraft departed with 37.5 tons of supplies, which included 28.5 tons of relief items such as tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, water pumps, kitchen sets, generators, eight tons of medicines, and one ton of food supplies.”
He further mentioned, “In total, India has sent 47.5 tons of emergency supplies to support ongoing rescue and relief efforts in Nepal through two airlifts. I would also like to add that further assistance is being considered. We are also mobilizing a Bailey bridge to aid in the rescue and relief operations.”
Jaiswal informed that the MEA has established a control room that will operate 24/7 and is in contact with state governments from where individuals traveled for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
He stated, “We have set up a control room at the Ministry of External Affairs that will operate around the clock. Details of the helpline and control room telephone numbers will be released on our X handle shortly. Our embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing have also established 24/7 helplines. We have been in touch with state governments regarding those who went on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, and we are also coordinating through the Ministry of Home Affairs.”
The severe flooding, which originated from Tibet in China, flowed through the Bhote Koshi River, causing significant devastation in Nepal.
Nepal Police confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the death toll from the Bhote Koshi flood that occurred on Wednesday has reached 270, with bodies still being recovered from several districts affected by the river’s flow. According to police, the highest number of bodies, 108, were recovered from Chitwan district in the southern plains, followed by 62 from Nawalparasi East, 27 from Dhading, and 17 from Rasuwa.
The Nepali government reported that due to the flooding affecting residential areas, hydropower projects, customs offices, and electrical infrastructure, communication has been lost with over 800 individuals.
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