AMN
Massive relief and rescue operations have gained momentum in earthquake-hit Nepal after improvement in weather conditions,
The rescue operations were disrupted due to continuous rains and aftershocks. Search for survivors and recovery of dead bodies from rubble has been intensified by rescuers in Kathmandu Valley and other remote areas.
64 rescue teams from 17 countries are engaged in locating survivors of the disaster in difficult terrain with sophisticated equipment and trained personnel. A Maximum of about 750 rescuers from India are engaged in rescue and relief operations. NDRF rescuers are carrying out relief operations at seven localities in Kathmandu.
Relief materials have begun reaching near the epicenter of the quake such as Dhading and Gorkha which were badly hampered due to rains and bad weather.
India National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar visited operational sites where NDRF teams are engaged in relief operations. They were accompanied by Director General of NDRF, O P Singh. Mr Doval and Mr Jaishankar assured the Nepalese leadership that as long as Nepal Government wants, Indian rescuers would stay and conduct the operation in full swing.
Meanwhile, NDRF dispatched a consignment of relief materials including tents, water bottles, blankets, biscuits and medicines. DG, NDRF OP Singh is himself camping in Nepal to supervise and strengthen the on-going rescue operations. He told AIR at Kathmandu that well equipped NDRF rescuers are engaged at seven sites in Kathmandu valley.
The NDRF medical teams consisting of doctors and paramedics staff are engaged in carrying out health check-up and distributed medicines. So far, more than 992 victims have been attended to by the NDRF medical component.
The death toll due to the last Saturday’s earthquake has reached 6,600. Nearly 14 thousand people have been injured in the worst quake in 80 years.