Nepal quake: Largest ever disaster relief operation by India

Over 2,600 earthquake victims in Nepal have been treated so far by Indian medical teams, the Indian envoy said here today while providing details of the largest ever relief operation mounted by India in response to a natural disaster abroad.

1,170 of the victims have been treated at Barpak, the epicentre of the earthquake, Indian ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, said while briefing the international community about rescue and relief work carried out by India.

"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," Rae said.

The 7.9 magnitude quake on April 25 killed at least 7,365 people, including 41 Indians, while 14,355 others have been injured in the tragedy which has affected around 8 million of the 28 million population of Nepal.

Reiterating India's stand, he stated that India was ready to offer any support to the government of Nepal within its means and rescue and relief efforts carried out by India are being closely monitored in India and are also being coordinated with the international community.

After the devastating earthquake hit the Himalayan nation, India sent the first air force flight which landed in Kathmandu with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue teams and relief material within six hours of the quake.

Thereafter, IAF 32 flights brought in 520 tonnes of relief materials containing tents, blankets, medicines, cooking material, food, water, heavy engineering equipment, ambulances, RO plant, oxygen generators, two 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.

Reacting to the Nepal government asking foreign rescue teams to leave the country, an Indian Embassy spokesperson told PTI, "We have received a letter from the Nepal government regarding this and our rescue teams will be soon leaving the country. The Nepal government has issued similar letters to all the embassies".