Nepal praises India’s Flood Relief efforts, calls PM Modi ‘Exceptionally Generous’

Nepal on Saturday praised India for its assistance following the devastating floods that have killed more than 600 people, with Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “exceptionally generous”.

Speaking to PTI Videos, Wagle said India had indicated that it would provide substantial assistance to Nepal during the reconstruction phase.

The floods followed an ice-rock avalanche triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday. A massive flow of water, mud and debris swept through central Nepal, destroying homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower infrastructure.

More than 2,400 people remained missing, while nearly 2,500 had been evacuated as rescue teams continued operations amid intermittent rainfall in affected areas.

India has dispatched 57.6 tonnes of relief material to flood-hit parts of Nepal since Wednesday. An 11-member Indian team comprising medical personnel and tunnel-rescue specialists has also reached Nepal after Kathmandu requested assistance.

Wagle said Nepal’s response was being carried out in phases, with the immediate priority being the rescue of people who remain stranded or trapped, including those inside hydropower facilities. He said the Nepal Army had so far airlifted 1,930 people.

Authorities are also working to deliver relief supplies by air to areas including Dhunche, Rasuwa and Syaphru Besi, which have been cut off after roads were damaged.

The next phase will involve early recovery measures such as temporary shelters and cash-for-work programmes, followed by the larger reconstruction effort, Wagle said.

More than 11,000 security personnel, including over 5,000 Nepal Army personnel, have been deployed for search and rescue operations.

Asked about seeking assistance from other countries, Wagle said Nepal would continue to accept international support and specifically praised India’s response.

“The Government of India and Prime Minister Modi have been exceptionally generous,” Wagle said, recalling India’s assistance following Nepal’s 2015 earthquake.

He added that India had also sent special supplies after the floods and indicated that it would provide “very generous assistance for reconstruction”.

Wagle said similar support had also been forthcoming from Nepal’s other neighbouring countries.

with inputs the PTI