Rescue, relief operation in full swing in Nepal: Government

Relief and rescue work in quake-hit Nepal was in full swing with many Indian agencies, including the army, working hand-in-hand with the Nepali authorities to bring succour to the trapped and affected people, the government said on Tuesday.

"Four thousand people, mostly Indians, are being brought back by road route in 80 buses," Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told media persons here at a press conference.

The buses would come till Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, he said, from where the rescued people would be transported to different parts of the country.

He said the Indian ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, met Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and other senior official of the government there on Tuesday.

"Our ambassador called on Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and the prime minister appreciated Indian efforts of relief and rescue," Jaishankar said.

Elaborating the relief and rescue operation, he said the most important development of the day on Tuesday was that roads had been made operational and that is why a large number of buses and trucks could reach the affected areas with medicines and other essential materials.

"A total of 421 foreign nationals of 15 different countries have also been rescued by the Indian agencies," he said, adding that 170 of them were rescued by the Indian Air Force.

About quake-affected states in India, Home Secretary L.C. Goyal said 75 people have been killed in India due to the quake and aftershocks.

"The Centre is ready for more help to any of the affected state but so far none of the state has asked for additional help from the government," he said.

Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur told media persons that the Indian Air Force established bases in Pokhara and Kathmandu and their helicopters were taking off and landing at these two airbases to help the affected.

Mathur said three 45-bed field hospitals have also been set up.

"I was informed that minor surgeries were being performed apart from other medical help being provided by these units," he said.

The officials said that in an interesting development, 12 Indians were rescued by the Nepali Army from Tamakoshi area, northeast of Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, seven more Indians died in Nepal, Jaishankar said.

Asked about the number of Indians rescued, he said it would be difficult to cite an exact number as lots of them were being evacuated by various agencies and to have their exact number was difficult.

The foreign secretary also informed media persons that the Kathmandu airport has largely been de-congested and thus flights could take off and land easily.

"The situation has improved to a large extent at the airport but weather again played a spoilsport today," he added.