India Sends 68.5 Tonnes of Relief Supplies to Aid Crisis Hit Nepal
Fourth relief flight carries tunnel experts, forensic specialists and essential supplies as Indian teams assist Nepal’s search and rescue efforts.
India, Aug 31 : India has extended its humanitarian support to flood ravaged Nepal, providing 68.5 tonnes of relief materials and deploying specialised personnel and equipment to support ongoing search and rescue operations, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said.
The latest assistance included an Indian technical contingent with tunnel specialists, forensic experts and equipment aimed at reaching people believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels following devastating flash floods.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said a fourth Indian flight carrying 11 tonnes of relief assistance arrived in Nepal on Sunday. The consignment included equipment for tunnel rescue operations, forensic resources for DNA analysis and essential relief items.
Supplies included blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets and hygiene kits for communities affected by the disaster.
An 11-member Indian technical team comprising doctors, paramedics and tunnel engineers reached Kathmandu on Friday. The team conducted an on-site assessment of hydropower tunnels in the flood affected Trishuli region of Nuwakot district on Saturday.
The specialists also carried out an aerial assessment of the Chilime and Langtang areas before moving towards locations where rescue operations are being planned.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, a joint security contingent of 82 personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police has been working to clear debris and reach workers who may remain trapped inside tunnels.
India Provides Forensic Support and Bridge Equipment
Alongside rescue assistance, India has supplied forensic experts and equipment required for DNA identification. Nepal had requested international assistance for forensic examinations and other specialised operations following the disaster.
India has also facilitated the arrival of 16 trucks carrying components for a 230-foot single-lane modular steel bridge, according to the Indian Embassy.
Equipment for installing seven additional Bailey bridges is expected to be supplied soon, with technical teams scheduled to arrive to support their installation.
Nepal has sought assistance from both India and China to build 42 Bailey bridges in areas where floods have severely disrupted road connectivity. Such modular bridges can be assembled relatively quickly and help restore transportation routes without requiring extensive heavy machinery.
Rescue Teams Search Hydropower Tunnels
Nepali security personnel have rescued 191 workers from tunnels at different hydropower projects across the country, according to the Nepal Army.
However, reports that additional workers could still be trapped inside tunnels have intensified rescue efforts. Some of those missing are believed to be inside tunnel systems associated with the Upper Trishuli-1 and Trishuli-3A hydropower projects in Rasuwa district, close to the Nepal-Tibet border.
Rescue operations remain challenging because tunnel entrances have been obstructed by large quantities of mud and debris. Difficult weather conditions have further complicated efforts to reach the affected workers.
Flash Floods Cause Widespread Destruction
The flash floods swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors, causing widespread destruction across the affected regions.
The disaster damaged roads, bridges, settlements and hydropower infrastructure, while leaving rescue agencies facing difficult conditions in several remote locations.
India’s latest deployment combines humanitarian supplies with specialised technical assistance, including tunnel rescue expertise, forensic capabilities and infrastructure support, as Nepal continues its recovery and search operations.
