First Phase of Rescue, Relief Operations Completed in Quake-Hit Nepal
04 May, Kathmandu
The first phase of rescue and relief operation in most of the earthquake affected districts of Nepaal have been completed. Rescuers from about 34 countries engaged in search and rescue operations have completed their job at most of the affected sites.
Rescuers from different countries have started leaving the Himalayan country and some of them including Poland, Netherland, Turkey, Germany and France and a section of UK have already moved from the Nepal.
Official sources reports that largest contingent of above 750 rescuers of India`s NDRF has also completed its search and rescue operations in all three districts of Kathmandu valley including Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kathmandu. They have also bind up their medical camps after treating about 2000 injured. NDRF has rescued 11 injured persons, retrieved 132 dead bodies from rubbles during its rescue operation. About 15 persons have been rescued live from the rubbles and of them 11 were rescued by the NDRF.
Nepalese Ministry of Homes has also conveyed that relief and rehabilitation operation is underway in most of the districts. Removing of debris from streets and roads is also in progress. Death toll has reached to 7256 while the number of injured has reached 14,267. Relief Materials are reaching to Kathmandu from International donors on large scale continuously.
General Manager of civil aviation at Kathmandu airport Virendra Prasad Shreshtha said that 3220 cargo flights have already landed with relief materials till last mid night. He said on an average 30 to 35 cargo flights from different international donors are landing at Kathmandu with relief materials.
Replying to a question he said that there is no disruption on landing and take-off of cargo flights at Kathmandu International airport but only restriction has been imposed that weight should not be more than 196 tones. He said this restriction is not applicable on commercial cargo flights.
Country`s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has urged the international community and donor agencies to support Nepal to take relief materials to remote areas of hilly and mountainous region he has said that the country is in dire need of tents and tarpaulins for temporary shelter, dry foods, water purifying equipment, mattresses AIR correspondent reports that relief has now started reaching to remote towns and villages. Indian Air force helicopters are undertaking 40 to 50 sorties every day to drop the relief materials in affected districts. Authorities are yet to reach some remote villages in the district as victims in hilly areas are still deprived of much needed relief materials.