India lends all out support for Nepal quake

New Delhi: India has reached out with a quick rescue mission following the massive quake in the Himalayan nation. Nepal and parts of the Indian sub-continent were jolted to a stop on Saturday by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake, Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said India had already started a relief and rescue operation in Nepal.

Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Modi had spoken to both the President and Prime Minister of Nepal and had pledged India’s unconditional and relentless support and assistance to the people of Nepal.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already ordered the immediate dispatch of relief and medical assistance with an order to evacuate all Indian citizens from the state,” Jaishankar said.

Explaining India’s plan of action, Jaishankar said beside the two aircrafts that have already flown to Nepal, two more carrying NDRF teams will take off from Hindon and one plane will take off from Bhatinda. To support them, five helicopters were on standby in Kathmandu.

Jaishankar said that the situation in Nepal was really difficult as Internet and electricity is down in Nepal making it difficult for the government to monitor the situation on the ground. He also said that the embassy in Nepal had faced damage and one staffer had lost his wife in the quake.

“We have already set up helpline numbers and there is an email address, controlroom@mea.gov.in which has been set up for any information,” he said.
Jaishankar said he could not give an exact number of Indians who were stuck in Nepal at the moment but those who wished to get in touch with their families could contact the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

Preliminary reports suggest that more than 700 people have died in Nepal so far and Emergency has been declared in the state.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi too felt the earthquake and said the government is assessing the damage. The Prime Minister convened a high-level meeting in Delhi with ministers and top officials to assess the situation. He has appointed union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy to handle the aftermath in the states bordering Nepal.