As India continues to extend helping hand to flood-ravaged Nepal, external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that a team of tunneling experts is being sent after reports emerged that nearly a hundred people are stranded in a hydropower tunnel.
This comes amid Nepal government denying help from foreign countries as it said that its security agencies are capable of handling the rescue operation.
Track live updates on Nepal floods “The main thing is that in one place where there is a hydroelectric project, there could be possibility of people who may be a tunnel. So, we are sending a team to help with the experts in tunneling. Also, they need some bailey bridges, so we are sending bridges. These are bridges that can be quickly put together along with a team. There may be some medical teams also going out there. If they require NDRF people to go, we will send them. We have given them that option.
Jaishankar was speaking to the media after meeting group of 21 people who returned to Delhi from flood-ravaged Nepal on Friday.
The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said this earlier during the weekly MEA briefing. “We are preparing to send a tunnel rescue team, for which a recce team is being flown in first to assess the equipment required etc,” Jaiswal said. The minister said that a team of NDRF personnel may also be sent if Nepal requires it, adding that two planes of relief materials have already gone and third one will be sent on Friday. Two planes of relief supplies have already gone out there and third plane will be taking off today,” Jaishankar said.
For now we don’t require such help,” Lok Bahadur Chhetri, spokesperson for Nepal’s foreign ministry, said, news agency Reuters reported. Nepal has turned down offers from several countries to send search and rescue teams after devastating flash floods hit towns and villages near the China border. “The offer for help is natural. Our security agencies are doing the search and rescue operation.
Nepal’s Balen Shah-led government said on Friday that its security agencies are capable of handling the rescue operation.
