India to stand shoulder to shoulder with Nepal: Ranjit Rae

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae on Monday said that New Delhi will provide all assistance to the earthquake-hit Himalayan nation in its rehabilitation process and will stand shoulder to shoulder with it.

"India will fully participate in the rehabilitation process. We will provide whatever assistance is required by Nepal and which is in our capability. After the two visits of Prime Minister Modi to Nepal last year we have opened a new chapter in this relationship and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with Nepal at this difficult time," Rae told ANI.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) earlier in the day confirmed that the Nepal Government has asked the search and rescue teams from 34 countries to withdraw their operations from the earthquake-hit areas of the country, adding that it will make a demobilisation plan for the same.

Nepal was devastated by a massive earthquake on April 25, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale and resulted in the deaths of over 7,000 people. It is being viewed as one of the worst calamities suffered by Nepal in over 80 years.