Kathmandu: India has dispatched an 11-member specialist team to Nepal to support ongoing rescue and relief operations following devastating flash floods that have claimed more than 500 lives and left nearly 2,000 people missing.
The team reached Nepal on Saturday at the request of the Nepalese government, sources at the Indian Embassy said. It includes medical professionals as well as experts specialising in tunnel rescue, who are expected to assist local authorities in dealing with some of the most challenging aspects of the recovery operation.
The deployment comes as Nepal continues to grapple with the aftermath of flash floods that struck Rasuwa and other areas of central Nepal on Wednesday. The disaster caused extensive damage to homes and settlements and disrupted vital infrastructure, including roads, bridges and hydropower facilities.
Nepal has been carrying out large-scale rescue operations with its security personnel taking the lead. On Friday, the government indicated that it wanted to make maximum use of its own security forces, citing their familiarity with the country’s rugged landscape and difficult environmental conditions.
At the same time, Kathmandu has kept the door open to specialised international assistance. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said outside help could be accepted in situations requiring technical expertise, particularly when rescue operations involve complicated or difficult-to-access structures.
The need to restore connectivity has emerged as another major challenge following the floods. Nepal has sought assistance from both India and China for the construction of 42 Bailey bridges in affected areas to help reconnect communities and restore transportation links.
Bailey bridges are prefabricated structures that can be assembled relatively quickly and are particularly useful in emergency situations because their installation generally does not require heavy construction machinery or specialised tools.
The arrival of India’s specialist team adds another layer of international support as Nepal continues its efforts to rescue those still missing, treat the injured and rebuild critical infrastructure damaged by the floods.
