Kumar Bahukhandi
Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava handing over humanitarian aid materials to Nepal’s Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Paudel. (X.com/@IndiaInNepal)
PM Modi said India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance and stands firmly in solidarity with the people of Nepal
Kathmandu: Demonstrating solidarity with Nepal following catastrophic flash floods, the Embassy of India in Nepal has provided crucial humanitarian assistance, underscoring the close partnership between the two countries during the crisis.
Emphasising India’s commitment to Nepal amid the natural disaster, the Embassy of India in Nepal posted on X, “Always with Nepal. Ambassador Naveen Srivastava handed over 10 tons of humanitarian aid materials from India to the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mr Khadka Raj Poudel.”
“This assistance will contribute to the relief efforts following the devastating floods. India stands firmly with Nepal and is committed to providing all possible support,” the embassy said.
The diplomatic response follows the disaster that struck Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River region on Wednesday, triggering one of the deadliest events in the country’s modern history, according to The Kathmandu Post.
The disaster was triggered when an avalanche blocked the flow of the Lhende tributary of the Bhotekoshi, striking Timure near the China border at Rasuwagadhi and sending a violent surge downstream towards Syaphrubesi without warning. With no rainfall reported in the area, residents had little warning before the flood struck.
At least 157 people have been confirmed dead, while nearly 400 individuals remain unaccounted for following the mid-morning disaster. Citing Nepalese police, CNN reported that foreign nationals and security personnel are among those missing.
According to Nepal’s Tourism Board, around 105 Indians were among the foreign nationals “reported missing” after the flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River in the Rasuwa area. The figure is based on preliminary agency-wise records received from tourism and travel companies.
A statement from Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Office said hundreds of people, including 391 foreigners and 44 security personnel, have gone missing,
The Kathmandu Post reported. A preliminary assessment cited by The Kathmandu Post highlighted extensive infrastructure destruction across three districts, including nine destroyed hydropower projects, nine commercial bank branches, 19 motorable bridges and roughly 40 kilometres of highway swept away.
As emergency search and rescue operations continue, India’s delivery of 10 tonnes of humanitarian relief aims to bolster ongoing recovery efforts on the ground. At the highest political level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Wednesday and conveyed condolences over the loss of lives caused by the floods.
Modi said India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance and stands firmly in solidarity with the people of Nepal. He also noted that teams from both countries are coordinating closely in rescue and relief efforts. “Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal.
The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time. India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal.
Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts,” Modi said in a post on X. Building on these relief efforts, India has also begun mobilising additional humanitarian assistance for Nepal. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a post on X, “India’s HADR and medical assistance has reached Kathmandu.
More assistance is being mobilised to support relief efforts.”
( Source : ANI )
