India’s support to Nepal remains strong and steadfast in this difficult hour, EAM Jaishankar says
India has sent a second consignment of emergency relief assistance for the people affected by the earthquake in Nepal. A flight carrying nine tonnes of relief material landed in Nepal on Monday (November 6, 2023).
 
The consignment was transported to Nepalgunj by a special Indian Air Force C-130 and comprised essential medical and hygiene supplies, tents, sleeping bags and blankets, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said. 
 
"Second flight carrying 9 tonnes worth of emergency relief assistance lands in Nepal. India’s support to Nepal remains strong and steadfast in this difficult hour," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on social media platform X.
 
The second consignment was handed over by India's Deputy Chief of Mission Prasanna Shrivastava on behalf of the Government of India to Banke’s Chief District Officer Shravan Kumar Pokhrel in the presence of Nepalgunj Mayor Prashant Bista. 
 
India continues to remain steadfast in extending all possible support to the Government of Nepal in the aftermath of the Jajarkot earthquake, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a press release.
 
India sent the first consignment of emergency relief assistance on Sunday. It comprised 11 tonnes of relief material provided by India which included tents, tarpaulin sheets, blankets, and sleeping bags along with essential medicines and medical equipment.
 
At least 157 people were killed when an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 hit the Himalayan nation on November 3, 2023. According to Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring &Research Centre, the epicentre of the earthquake was at Jajarkot, which lies about 400km northeast of the capital, Kathmandu.
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to the earthquake. He said that India stood in solidarity with the people of Nepal and was ready to extend all possible assistance. He also wished a quick recovery to those who were injured.
 
“Deeply saddened by loss of lives and damage due to the earthquake in Nepal. India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and we wish the injured a quick recovery. @cmprachanda," Prime Minister Modi wrote on X on November 4, 2023.
 
As the latest assistance to Nepal shows, India continues to be a ‘First Responder’ in crisis situations in its neighbourhood and beyond. Following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the Government of India was the first responder and carried out its largest disaster relief operation abroad - Operation Maitri. 
 
India had also extended US$ 1 billion to Nepal as part of its long-term assistance for post-earthquake reconstruction in housing, education, health, and cultural heritage sectors and included reconstruction of 50,000 houses in Nepal’s Gorkha and Nuwakot districts.