Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae briefed the diplomatic community on India's ongoing assistance to Nepal rendered in full coordination with the Government of Nepal in wake of the powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25. The briefing was attended by several Heads of Missions including China and EU.

In his opening remarks Ambassador Rae pointed out that operation Maitri is the largest ever support operation by India in response to a natural calamity abroad. It represented not only the deepest commitment at the highest political level in India but also overwhelming outpouring of support from the people of India and over a dozen Indian states including those bordering Nepal.

 He stated that India was ready to offer any support to the Government of Nepal within its means. India’s rescue and relief efforts are being closely monitored in India- as evidenced by the high level visit of National Security Advisor and Foreign Secretary on May 1st- and are also being coordinated with the international community.

 According to a press release issued by Indian Embassy, ambassador shared India’s activities in the quake hit areas. India sent the first flight of the IAF which landed in Kathmandu containing NDRF rescue teams and relief materials within six hours of the earthquake. Thereafter 32 flights of IAF brought in 520 tonnes of relief materials containing tents, blankets, medicines, cook houses, food, water, heavy engineering equipment, ambulances, RO plant, oxygen generators, 2 full-fledged army field hospitals with 18 medical teams, 18 army engineering teams and 16 NDRF teams. These teams have been working round the clock since their deployment in close coordination with the Government of Nepal.

8 Mi 17 and 5 ALH helicopters of the Indian Army, operating from Kathmandu and Pokhara, have carried more than 207 tonnes of relief material in 449 sorties, evacuated over 900 injured and transported over 1700 stranded people of various nationalities. More than 2600 earthquake victims have been treated so far by the Indian medical teams. Out of these, 1170 have been treated at Barpak, the epicenter of the earthquake.

A 10 member Chinese rescue team was inducted and extricated from Pipaldanda, Sindhupalchowk by IAF. A medical team from Singapore was also inducted through IAF at Laprak. More foreign troops will be inducted through Indian Army relief and rescue operations.

 A 31 member team from AIIMS and a medical team from Gujrat are working at the National Trauma Centre, Kathmandu. A team of 11 doctors from Shantikunj Haridwar has been deployed in affected areas of Kathmandu.

Two teams of Langar (field kitchens) from Haryana and Punjab have started Langar at Bhaktapur and Kupondole catering meals to over 10000 persons per day. 450 truck containing approx. 4500 tonnes of relief material containing food, water, medicines, tents, blankets, tarpaulins and plastic sheets from the Government of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as well as NGOs have arrived in Nepal.

The representatives of diplomatic community deeply appreciated India’s commitments to rescue and relief efforts so far and expressed the desire to work closely with India in next phase of relief, recovery and rehabilitation as well.

Separately today 18 trucks containing 100 tonnes of food and relief material and an ambulance with 5000 blood testing kits received from Government of Uttar Pradesh, India for the earthquake victims was also handed over to the CDO, Kathmandu by the Embassy.

 Ambassador Rae visited Swayambhu to survey the extent of damage caused by the Nepal Earthquake and distributed relief material sent by the state governments of Bihar and U.P. to the earthquake victims at a distribution program organized by Swambhu Vyabastahpan Samiti in presence of the local member of the Constituent Assembly. Later in the day he visited Dharmakirti Vihar in Kathmandu and handed over relief material to Guruma Dhammavati.