An 11-member specialised Indian medical and tunnel-rescue team arrived in flood-hit Nepal on Saturday, August 29, as rescue and relief operations intensified following the devastating flash floods that have caused widespread destruction across the Himalayan nation.
The team includes medical personnel and tunnel-rescue experts and has been deployed at the request of the Nepal government to assist local authorities in highly specialised rescue operations.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the specialised team is now on the ground in Nepal as India continues to expand its humanitarian assistance to the neighbouring country.
The team arrived aboard an Indian Air Force assistance flight carrying an additional 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water-purification tablets.
The latest deployment marks a shift from the immediate delivery of relief material towards more technically challenging rescue operations, particularly in areas where people are feared trapped inside damaged tunnels and hydropower infrastructure.
The 11-member contingent reportedly includes doctors, paramedics and a reconnaissance team tasked with assessing tunnel-rescue requirements and determining what specialised equipment will be needed for operations in difficult locations.
India has now dispatched three major consignments of humanitarian assistance to Nepal. The first aircraft carried around 10 tonnes of relief supplies on August 26, followed by a second flight carrying 37.5 tonnes on August 27. With the latest 10-tonne consignment, India’s total assistance has reached around 57.5 tonnes.
Nepal has also sought assistance from India and China for the construction of 42 Bailey bridges to restore road connectivity in areas where bridges and transport links were destroyed by the floods.
India has additionally offered to deploy National Disaster Response Force teams and specialised equipment if required as Nepal continues large-scale search, rescue and recovery operations.
The flash floods have severely affected the Bhotekoshi River area in Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal, damaging settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower projects and leaving hundreds of people dead or missing.
With difficult terrain, damaged infrastructure and specialised tunnel rescues complicating operations, the arrival of India’s expert team is expected to strengthen Nepal’s response in areas requiring technical assistance.
source – PTI
Supreme News Network
