India will do everything possible to help Nepal, says Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI: India will do everything possible to help Nepal, which was ravaged by a major earthquake on Saturday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today.

"Nepal is our neighbour and we also have cultural relations with it. We have been making all possible efforts from our side.

"We had held a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and many decisions have been taken so that we can provide the maximum help to Nepal," he told reporters here.

The Home Minister said India has taken a number of steps to help Nepal which was started right from the day one.

"A team has already reached there for coordination and whatever help and facilities can be offered. Decisions have been taken on that too," he said.

Referring to the situation in some parts of India which was also hit by the quake, the Home Minister said the central government was in regular touch with the affected state governments.

"The Prime Minister has talked to all Chief Ministers and whatever is possible from our side, we are doing it," he said.

India has scaled up relief and rescue operations in quake-hit Nepal, deploying over two dozen aircraft and choppers along with nearly 1000 trained personnel and said the situation in the Himalayan nation was "very, very serious".

A slew of steps have been taken for speedy evacuation of stranded tourists including goodwill visas to foreigners and mobilising of buses and ambulances to bring them by road.

India has so far deployed 13 military aircraft, three civilian aircraft of Air India and Jet Airways, six Mi-17 helicopters, two Advanced Light Helicopter while two more Mi-17 choppers are kept in standby.