India has stepped up humanitarian assistance to flood-hit Nepal, dispatching a total of 47.5 tonnes of relief material, medicines and food supplies over two days as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reviewed the situation and efforts to assist affected Indian citizens.
The first consignment of 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief material was sent to Kathmandu on August 26. This was followed by a second consignment of 37.5 tonnes on August 27 aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft.
Jaishankar chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi with the Foreign Secretary, senior Ministry of External Affairs officials and Indian ambassadors in Kathmandu and Beijing. He said urgent efforts were underway to ascertain the well-being of Indians in flood-affected areas.
The ministry is coordinating with various ministries, state governments, tour operators and project authorities while working closely with Nepal on relief and assistance efforts.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu handed over the relief consignments to Nepalese ministers Khadga Raj Paudel and Mahabir Pun.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 21 Indian citizens from Tamil Nadu, who had travelled to Nepal for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, had been rescued. A special control room has also been established to coordinate India’s response to the flood situation.