Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks to Nepal PM Sushil Koirala, assures all help

NEW DELHI: Prime minister Narendra Modi led India’s swift response to the earthquake. Modi spoke to Nepal president Ram Baran Yadav and assured him of quick relief measures. He convened an urgent meeting of top officials, ministers, and meteorological and disaster management experts to review the situation.

The PM asked for “proper arrangements” to be made to evacuate stranded tourists. India dispatched the first of four IAF planes pressed into service with disaster relief professionals and medical supplies within roughly three hours of the disaster to Kathmandu from the Hindon air base near the Capital.

Foreign secretary S Jaishankar said that India had already sent an IAF C-130J aircraft to Nepal with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and relief items.

“Eight helicopters would be deployed tomorrow — four in Pokhara and four in Kathmandu for local rescue missions,” Jaishankar said.

The foreign secretary said the Indian embassy in Kathmandu had also suffered damage. He said, “There is an email controlroom@ mea.gov.in. We would like the people to email us as the helpline numbers are busy.” The numbers to the 24-hour control room are +91 11 2301 2113, +91 11 2301 4104 and +91 11 2301 7905, an official statement said.

Ambassador-designate of Nepal here Deep Kumar Upadhyay said his country needs mobile medical assistant units from India, besides other help. He thanked India for offering help.