301 people from Maharashtra rescued from quake-hit Nepal

MUMBAI: Over 300 people from Maharashtra have been rescued from the earthquake-hit Nepal in the last four days, while the state government is unable to establish contact with 40 others.

"According to the information that we have received from Maharashtra Sadan (State guest house in Delhi), 301 people from Maharashtra have been airlifted and rescued from Nepal till today," said an official from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) here.

"Besides, we have information that about 200 people are on their way to Gorakhpur by road. Out of around 1,200 people that were touring Nepal when the massive earthquake occurred (on April 25), the Government has still not been able to get information of about 40 tourists. All others are safe and should come back home in the next 2-3 days," he said.

The state's Public Health department has already dispatched four teams of doctors to Delhi for onward journey to Nepal to assist medical relief operations in the Himalayan nation, he said.

"Some essential medical supplies have also been sent with these teams. In order to understand actual relief needs on the ground in Nepal, State's Relief and Rehabilitation Secretary had a discussion with Major General Anurag Gupta from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

"We were then informed by the NDMA that there are adequate medical teams operating in Nepal. However, relief assistance in the form of medicines will be welcome," the official added.

He said the state government has dispatched a truck loaded with medicines, including analgesics, antibiotics, iodine solution, bandages, gloves and tetanus injections.

"Also, teams of doctors from J J Hospital have been kept on standby for deployment to Nepal, if required," he said, adding, efforts are being made to locate people from the state who are still missing.