To boost ties, PM Narendra Modi to present advanced chopper to Nepal

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hand over to Nepal a 200-bedded trauma centre and an Advanced Light Helicopter for its army after arriving here tomorrow to attend the SAARC Summit.

The trauma centre has been built by India at a cost of Rs 1.5 billion at the city's Bir Hospital, the oldest medical facility in the country.

The centre was to come into operation in 2009, but the project got delayed due to some technical reasons.

The trauma centre has six operation theatres, 14 intensive care units (ICUs), eight resuscitation rooms and beds for emergency observation, 10 examination cubicles in the outpatient department and a triage area.

In a separate function after arriving in Kathmandu tomorrow, Modi will hand over the keys of Advanced Light Helicopter 'Dhruv' to Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala for the country's army.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd manufactured helicopter, which costs USD 6.5 million, can meet the requirements of both military and civil operators.

Modi will tomorrow also have separate meetings with President Ram Baran Yadav, Koirala and other senior leaders of Nepal.