JOIN USPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday turned emotional in his “Mann ki Baat” radio programme while speaking about the massive earthquake in the Himalayan region, promising that India will make all out efforts to help quake-hit people of Nepal.
Sharing his pain over the loss of lives and property that the earthquake caused, particularly in Nepal, the Prime Minister said he did not feel up to doing the radio address due to the tragic incident.
“I was not feeling up to doing my ‘Mann ki Baat’ today. Last month, unseasonal hailstorm and heavy rain ruined the agricultural crop and farmers. Few days back, many people died in a storm in Bihar. And on Saturday, a massive earthquake shook the world. The quake took many lives in different states across India. But the destruction and damage is massive in Nepal,” Modi said.
Noting that he has seen the 2001 Gujarat earthquake from close quarters, he said he could feel the pain of the people of Nepal in this situation. “My dear brothers and sisters of Nepal, India is with you in this hour of grief. For 125 crore Indians, Nepal is their own country and India will make all efforts to wipe the tears of every person in Nepal, hold their hands and stand with them,” he said.
Modi said while the process of sending help, including expert teams, had already been started, the priority was to rescue those who might still be alive under the debris.
“Our focus will be to rescue as many people alive as possible,” he said, adding that relief and rehabilitation work will go on for a long time.
“For Indians, Nepal’s plight is our plight. We will wipe the tears of every Nepali, hold their hands and give them support,” he said.