New Delhi: India on Thursday sent another aircraft loaded with emergency supplies to Nepal, stepping up its assistance to the neighbouring country after severe flash floods caused large-scale destruction along its border with Tibet, PTI reported.
The military transport plane carried 37.5 tonnes of relief material, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies, medicines and food packets. The latest shipment came a day after India delivered 10 tonnes of similar aid to Nepal.
“A second flight has just taken off, carrying 37.5 tonnes of HADR material, medicines & food packets for Nepal,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a social media post.
He said India was maintaining regular communication with the Nepalese authorities and would continue to assist the ongoing relief operations.
“India remains in close and continuous touch with the Nepalese authorities. We will continue to strongly support the ongoing relief efforts,” he said.
The floods, which struck areas along Nepal’s frontier with Tibet, have reportedly claimed at least 165 lives and left behind widespread damage. India’s first consignment contained temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines to support people affected by the disaster.
New Delhi began sending emergency assistance after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah and assured him that India would extend all possible support. Further consignments are likely to be dispatched in the days ahead as relief efforts continue.