Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said that all resources of the armed forces were mobilised for rescue and relief efforts in quake-hit Nepal. Moreover, Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag is in touch with his Nepalese counterpart to extend any help if need be for search and rescue operations, he said.
As regards damage caused by the earthquake in UP, Bihar and other states, Parrikar said he has directed all Army units to carry out rescue operations and extend full co-operation to local administration. IAF has pressed into service its transport aircraft and helicopters to airlift NDRF teams, doctors,
clothes, medicines, water among others to Nepal, he said. “As directed by Prime Minister, we have mobilised all resources to support Nepal. We have at present diverted three aircraft and two helicopters to carry NDRF team, doctors, food, water and medicine among others to Nepal,” Parrikar said.
As the news of the earthquake in Nepal came in, the Defence Ministry had immediately put the Army, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and IAF assets on standby, he said. One C-130J Super Hercules medium lift transport has already landed at Kathmandu carrying 39 NDRF personnel and 3.5 tonnes of relief material. A C-17 heavy lift transport aircraft with 40 rapid action medical team (RAMT) personnel and paramedics were also being deployed. Meanwhile, two Army field hospitals and two Engineers Task Force teams are now on emergency standby to leave for Nepal.