Nepal earthquake: PM Narendra Modi likely to make aerial survey of devastation

NEW DELHI: India is handling the aftermath of the earthquake that ravaged Nepal as if it had happened on its own soil, with the prime minister himself overseeing New Delhi’s relief and rescue operations in a country with which it shares deep historical, political and cultural roots.

The death toll in Saturday’s quake could top 5,000, Nepal’s Consul General in Kolkata, Chandra Kumar Ghimire, said on Monday. The official count was over 3,700 late on Monday.

Senior government officials told ET the Indian administration is handling the situation with the same importance it had given to the floods in Uttarakhand and J&K in the past two years. The push to mount such a massive relief and rehabilitation effort has come from the top political leadership, they said. PM Modi is expected to make an aerial survey of the affected areas, said the sources.

The government’s crisis management group is meeting regularly since Saturday. India has sent tonnes of relief material, including medicines, water and food. States, including Bihar, have stepped in to send relief to Nepal, while Punjab and Haryana plan to organise community meals. The health ministry has decided to send a team of medical experts from AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital to Nepal.

Since Saturday, India has evacuated 2,500 of its nationals besides citizens of other countries from Nepal. It is also offering free visas to stranded foreigners to come to India. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said: “We hope that from tomorrow, there is greater share of road movement.” “We have moved surgical centres. They have taken medical sets.

Reverse osmosis plants have been sent for drinking water. Milk and milk products have been sent. Food packets have been sent. We are in the process of moving in more tents,” he said.