As part of its commitment to stand by Nepal in its moment of grief, India is taking a series of measures to rescue victims trapped under debris and provide succour to those forced to live outdoor in camps and under the open sky. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday informed the lok Sabha that India has sent ten National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, which are already stationed in Nepal. Six more NDRF teams and one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) were also on the way to provide depth to the rescue operations.
In addition, Indian Air Force planes have brought back 2,500 Indians stranded in Nepal following the devastating earthquake, Singh said. Giving details of India’s rescue exercises in the neighbouring country, Rajnath said an engineering task force and 18 medical units have also been rushed to the affected zones in Nepal.
An inter-ministerial team headed by Additional Secretary, Home Ministry, is being sent, carrying 250 high frequency wireless sets to coordinate rescue and relief work, the Home Minister said while responding to an impromptu discussion in the House on the catastrophic earthquake in Nepal. India has already sent 22 tonnes of food, two tonnes of medical supplies, 50 tonnes of water besides large numbers of blankets and other relief material.
“Nepal is part of our family and in time of crisis we are with Nepal,” he said assuring that all possible assistance would be rendered to people there in days to come.
NDRF teams, comprising 450 trained personnel, have fanned across areas like Seetapaila, Maharajganj, Maheshwari and Gangabhajat, about 10-15 kms from Kathmandu Valley. The force, till now, has rescued ten people and retrieved 46 bodies from under the rubble of buildings brought down by the quake on Saturday and a string of aftershocks thereafter. Describing the earthquake as “a big tragedy,” Rajnath said the toll in India has reached 72 with 56 deaths reported in Bihar, 12 in UP, three in West Bengal and one in Rajasthan. He said the toll would increase as rescue operations are still underway.
He said after the earthquake, the Prime Minster had spoken to 13 Chief Ministers and he himself got in touch with Chief Ministers of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand- States having borders with Nepal and suggested buses be sent there for evacuation as it would be difficult “to airlift all” stranded there. The Home Minister thanked three States for having immediately dispatched buses to Nepal and setting up relief camps on the borders.
“We are also helping foreigners. We have decided to give free visas to those willing to come to India. Immigration facilities have been set up in this regard,” he said.