Let it be known that India is extending "overall humanitarian assistance" in Nepal: Ajit Seth

NEW DELHI: Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth has directed a National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting to publicise details to underline that India was extending "overall humanitarian assistance" in Nepal.

This followed concern in government that a perception was being created that only Indians were being evacuated by its forces. ET has learnt that at the NCMC meeting held on Tuesday morning, the Seth was told that a perception is growing in the media that only Indians were being evacuated from Nepal.

This prompted Seth to announce a decision that the Indian assistance to Nepal was not only to evacuate stranded Indians, but extend overall humanitarian assistance in Nepal as a neighboring country.

Following this, foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted on Tuesday evening that India had assisted in rescuing 170 nationals from 15 countries from Nepal.

Fresh details before the NCMC meeting on Wednesday showed the effort has been spruced up, even as the Indian defence forces evacuated 2,030 foreigners through air and land route. Over 785 of them have been granted gratis visa while others have valid visas. As per details put before NCMC, a total of 46,076 persons have been evacuated.

A majority of them, 40,163, were evacuated via road, while 5,914 via air. More than 1,300 foreigners were evacuated by the Indian Air Force or chartered flights, NCMC was told. The health secretary assured NCMC that medical facilities were being given to all nationalities.

Seth directed that all official information must be conveyed through "a single window system" which will be coordinated by NDMA and Home Ministry with the states.