'First responder' India expresses solidarity as Nepal marks 10th anniversary of devastating earthquake
As Nepal observed the 10th anniversary of the devastating earthquake on Friday, India recalled with a sense of solidarity New Delhi's prompt assistance towards rescue
- KATHMANDU — As Nepal observed the 10th anniversary of the devastating
earthquake on Friday, India recalled with a sense of solidarity New Delhi's
prompt assistance towards rescue, relief, and reconstruction efforts in the
aftermath, reflecting the deep-rooted and enduring ties between the two
nations.
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- “We solemnly remember the lives lost and the resilience
of the Nepali people,” the Embassy of India in Nepal stated.
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- Meanwhile, in Kathmandu, many people, including top
officials and diplomats, gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of the
devastating earthquake. The 7.8-magnitude quake that struck Nepal on April 25,
2015 killed nearly 9,000 people and injured over 22,000.
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- Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, and Home Minister Ramesh
Lekhak were among others who attended the special memorial event held at
Sundhara in the capital.
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- The programme on Friday was held under the theme 'Let's
build safe infrastructure, let's stay safe from earthquakes'.
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- India has been the first international responder to Nepal
for its humanitarian initiatives in times of natural disasters. The Indian
Government carried out one of its largest overseas disaster relief operations,
'Operation Maitri', in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck
Nepal in April, 2015.
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- Indian rescue and relief assistance reached Nepal within
six hours of the earthquake. Indian military aircrafts, helicopters, commercial
flights, cargo trucks and trains carried relief material and rescue teams to
Nepal.
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- Additionally 16 Units of the National Disaster Response
Force worked in coordination with Nepalese security agencies to help rescue
victims and clear debris. Relief and rescue material supplied by India included
food and water, medicines, medical aid teams, mobile field hospitals, blankets,
tents, tarpaulins, engineering task forces and equipment, oxygen regenerators
and cylinders, and other essential commodities and equipment.
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