India has dispatched its fifth relief aircraft to flood-hit Nepal, carrying an 11-member specialised rescue team and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday.
The assistance comes as Nepal continues to deal with devastating Himalayan flash floods. Reports indicate that the disaster’s death toll has crossed 1,000, while thousands remain unaccounted for and rescue teams are struggling to reach people trapped at hydropower sites.
The latest Indian deployment adds to earlier relief shipments. India has so far supplied approximately 68.5 tonnes of relief material to Nepal, including medicines and emergency supplies. The operation is being carried out under India’s Neighbourhood First approach and its humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief framework.
Why it matters to India
Nepal is one of India’s closest neighbours, sharing an open border and deep economic, cultural and people-to-people ties. The crisis has therefore become an important humanitarian and diplomatic priority for New Delhi.
India is also working to locate and assist Indian nationals caught in the disaster; reports today put the number of Indians rescued at 163.