Operation Maitri - India's Helping Hand to Nepal

Last week Nepal experienced a major catastrophe in the form of an earthquake of the magnitude 7.9. The epicentre of the earthquake lay around 80 kms from the capital Kathmandu at a place called Pokhara. I remember this place Pokhara because some years back we saw the peak of Mount Everest from a hotel there through binoculars.

 As per the latest reports more than 6000 people lost their lives. The capital city Kathmandu is completely devastated with many historical monuments and temples lay in shambles. With several after shocks of the magnitude 5 and above, the population is still forced to stay outdoors facing severe hardships. The earthquake has such a devastating effect that scientists say the city of Kathmandu shifted nearly 10 - 15 ft from its existing position. This is because the Himalayas lie on a earth fault line where the Indian plate is joined to Eurasian Plate (They are called tectonic plates by the scientists).

The current Indian government headed by Mr Narendra Modi reacted very quickly and within 5-6 hours from the occurrence dispatched the first Indian Air Force plane with relief material to Kathmandu followed by three more flights with essential materials like water, food, medicines, doctors, cutting equipment etc. The relief operations are still continuing. The relief operations are being conducted by India under as "Operation Maitri" (Operation Friendship). In fact the reaction of the Indian Government was even before the subsistence of the after shocks.

It is estimated that an amount of nearly USD 10 Billion is required for reconstruction of Nepal. 

The operations are currently centered around Kathmandu and not much is known about the loss in countryside. Several of the villages in Nepal are difficult to reach during the normal times which now became inaccessible and hence the details of destruction at these places is not known.

We in India standby with the citizens of Nepal during this difficult time and help them in all possible ways to be back to normality.


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