New Delhi: Nepal, reeling from the devastating floods of August 26, has received significant aid from India. India began assisting Nepal immediately after the disaster struck. Indian teams have been working with great alacrity on tasks ranging from dispatching relief supplies to searching for missing persons and conducting DNA testing on recovered bodies. On Wednesday, the Indian Air Force’s eighth aircraft arrived in Kathmandu from New Delhi carrying 35 tonnes of relief and rescue materials, including equipment for tunnel rescue and forensic operations. These supplies were handed over to Nepal’s Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Mahabir Pun. India’s Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, stated, “The eighth Indian flight carrying relief and rescue materials—including equipment for tunnel rescue and forensics—arrived in Kathmandu and was handed over to Nepal’s Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Mahabir Pun.”
Over 1,300 Lives Lost
It is worth noting that Nepal is struggling to recover from the catastrophic floods of August 26, which caused widespread devastation; more than 1,300 people have lost their lives, and thousands remain missing. India is actively assisting Nepal in recovering from this severe disaster. Earlier, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, had stated that India had already dispatched 95 tonnes of relief material via seven flights.
India Has Dispatched 130 Tonnes of Relief Material So Far
India has sent a total of 130 tonnes of relief material to Nepal—95 tonnes across the first seven flights and 35 tonnes in the eighth. Additionally, forensic and tunnel rescue teams have been deployed to assist with relief and rescue operations in Nepal. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said, “We are making every effort to assist them during this disaster. As a close friend and neighbor, India immediately extended a helping hand and will continue to support Nepal’s relief, rescue, and reconstruction efforts.” “Both our forensic team and our tunnel rescue team are working on the ground. They are assisting with rescue and relief operations.”
Indian forensic team conducting DNA testing in two Kathmandu laboratories
He stated, “The forensic team is currently working in two laboratories in Kathmandu, processing 1,200 DNA samples. We will continue to assist Nepal based on its needs. As I mentioned previously, 275 Indian citizens are missing in this disaster. According to the MEA, in addition to deploying 54 expert personnel from India to support the ongoing rescue, relief, and forensic operations in Nepal, over 130 tonnes of relief material have been dispatched.”
What relief aid did India send to Nepal?
The relief and rescue materials sent by India to Nepal include standard items such as temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and medicines. Additionally, the Indian side has provided specialized equipment, including tunnel and mud rescue gear—such as mud rescue suits, gas detectors, breathing apparatus, and inflatable walkways—as well as DNA kits, reagents, and equipment for DNA profiling, and items like portable gensets, lighting towers, and dewatering pumps.
Indian team conducting search operations in tunnels at Chilime and Langtang
India’s specialized tunnel rescue team initially launched operations at two locations in Nepal—Chilime and Langtang—in coordination with the Nepali Army. The MEA stated, “Ongoing search efforts are now focused on Chilime, where the terrain, difficult access, and tunnel gradients have posed challenges. The Indian tunnel rescue team has remained steadfast in its work, ensuring good progress through a combination of manual efforts and the use of innovative techniques.”
