News
- A team comprising of ministers , senior officials from ministries of Home, Defence, External Affairs and NDMA today left for Nepal to coordinate rescue and relief operations in the quake-hit country.
- Since the communication lines down and the disaster in Nepal making things unmanageable, India is sending UAVs to Kathmandu to map the destruction in the neighbouring country and help rescue efforts. UAVs are under the operational command of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
- The team will also monitor evacuation of stranded Indians in Nepal.
- The team will also coordinate with the Nepalese government in the salvage operation and assess the damage.
- Countries like Spain also reached out to India for help
- Total of 170 nationals from 15 different countries have been evacuated by India.
Operation
- Over two dozen aircraft and choppers along with nearly 1000 trained personnel deployed.
- Steps for speedy evacuation of stranded tourists including goodwill visas to foreigners and mobilising of buses and ambulances to bring them by road.
- So far 13 military aircraft, three civilian aircraft of Air India and Jet Airways six Mi-17 helicopters, two Advanced Light Helicopters have been deployed while two more Mi-17 choppers are kept in standby.
- Ten tonnes of blankets, 50 tonnes of water, 22 tonnes of food items and two tonnes of medicines have been sent to Kathmandu.
- Three army field hospitals and engineering task force and medical units of civilian doctors have been sent to Nepal.
- The government reduced the call rates between India and Nepal to facilitate the rescue operations.