New Delhi: India has stepped up its assistance to flood-hit Nepal, with a fourth Indian Air Force aircraft landing in Kathmandu on Sunday carrying relief material, specialised equipment and technical teams to support the ongoing rescue and recovery operations.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the IAF’s C-130 aircraft delivered additional supplies and technical capabilities needed by teams working in disaster-affected areas.
The latest consignment included an 11-member tunnel technical team, search and rescue equipment, forensic specialists and facilities for DNA analysis.
Relief material and bridge equipment sent
The aircraft also carried essential humanitarian supplies, including blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets and hygiene kits.
India is simultaneously assisting Nepal in repairing infrastructure destroyed or damaged by the floods. Jaishankar said 16 trucks carrying components for a 230-foot Single Lane Modular Steel Bridge had already reached Nepal.
Equipment required to construct another seven Bailey bridges will also be sent, while technical personnel needed for their installation are expected to arrive shortly.
India airlifts 68.5 tonnes of assistance
With the latest shipment, India has now transported a total of 68.5 tonnes of relief material to Kathmandu by air.
The assistance delivered so far includes medicines, food packets, portable generators, water purification tablets and specialised technical equipment, alongside emergency shelter and other essential supplies.
Jaishankar said India’s support for Nepal’s rescue and relief operations would continue as the neighbouring country deals with the aftermath of the devastating floods.
Relief mission began Wednesday
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India’s emergency assistance began on Wednesday, when an IAF C-130J Hercules aircraft carried approximately 10 tonnes of relief supplies to Nepal.
That initial consignment included temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines.
A day later, an IAF C-17 Globemaster transported another 37.5 tonnes of assistance. The shipment included tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, dewatering pumps, kitchen equipment and generators, along with medicines and food supplies.
Focus shifts to rescue and reconstruction
The latest deployment combines immediate humanitarian relief with specialised technical support, particularly for search operations and damaged infrastructure.
With rescue teams continuing to work in flood-affected areas, India’s assistance is aimed not only at providing essential supplies but also at helping Nepal restore critical connectivity and infrastructure disrupted by the disaster.
The fourth flight’s arrival marks another step in India’s ongoing support for Nepal as rescue, relief and recovery efforts continue across the flood-hit regions.
