JOIN USNepal has asked India and 33 other countries to wrap up search and rescue operations ten days after a devastating earthquake killed more than 7,300 people.
Nepal now feels that there is no hope of finding people alive in the rubble.
However, Nepal late on Monday night clarified to India that its decision was not directed at it. Underlining that his country was thankful to India for responding within “6-7 hours” and saving lives following the devastating earthquake, Nepal Ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhyay indicated that India will remain engaged in the rehabilitation process.
Dozens of countries sent teams to look for survivors after the 7.9-magnitude quake on April 25, but the Nepal government now believes the search and rescue work has been nearly completed. “They can leave. If they are also specialists in clearing the rubble, they can stay,” home ministry official Rameshwor Dangal told Reuters on Monday.
The decision, which also applies to India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which has the largest presence in Nepal, comes in the wake of criticism by the Nepalese on social media over “glorification” of New Delhi’s aid efforts by the Indian media.
Around 4,500 foreign rescue workers descended on the Himalayan nation following its worst quake since 1934, which has killed 7,365 people, including 41 Indians, and wounded 14,355 in the Himalayan nation. Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala earlier estimated the toll could reach 10,000.
On Monday, the police and local volunteers found the bodies of about 100 trekkers and villagers buried in an avalanche set off by the earthquake in a remote district, and were digging through snow and ice for scores more missing.
Mt Everest closed this season
Nepal government has decided to close Mt Everest for climbing activities this season as routes above the base camp were impossible to be fixed, which were destroyed by the deadly avalanche, reports PTI from Kathmandu.