Nepal’s Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha announced the search and rescue operation over. He also stated that the focus of the government would now be on providing aid to the affected people.
A 6.4M earthquake rattled Nepal at around 11.47 pm local time on 3 November 2023. According to The Kathmandu Post, at least 157 people have been killed and nearly 400 injured in the worst quake since the 2015 disaster that claimed nearly 9000 lives. TKP also stated in a report that Nepal’s Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet told journalists that the rescue operations are nearing an end and hospitals in all places including Kathmandu are on standby for treatment.
According to TKP, the Nepal Government on Sunday also decided to provide free treatment to the inured across all hospitals.
On Sunday, India, as part of its Neighbour’s First Policy, sent 11 tonnes of emergency relief assistance, that included medicines and relief materials, worth Rs 10 crore to Nepal. Ambassador Naveen Srivastava handed over the consignment to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister NC Purna Khadka.
“An IAF C-130 J got airborne today carrying rescue and relief material and a team of National Disaster Response Force (@NDRFHQ) to the earthquake affected area near Nepalganj”, the Indian Airforce posted on X.
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As per The Kathmandu Post, the government of the Himalayan country said it is not in a hurry to seek foreign help for search and rescue operations and in the management of relief distribution and other logistics in the wake of the devastating earthquake that has left a trail of destruction in western Nepal, particularly Jajarkot and West Rukum districts.
India, China and the United States have offered support with logistics, and search for the victims by sending rescue teams to the country, TKP had added.
According to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), concerns remain that actual figures may be higher, especially as the earthquake struck at a time when most people were likely to have been at home or otherwise indoors. It further said in its report that local authorities anticipate an increase in the number of recorded casualties as search and rescue efforts continue amid reports that some people may still be trapped under collapsed buildings.
Health facilities are reportedly overwhelmed, with hospitals in Rukum overcrowded and Bheri Hospital in Banke now only treating patients in serious condition, OCHA stated.
The epicentre of Friday’s earthquake was in Ramidanda in Jajarkot District, some 65 kilometres northeast of Surkhet, the capital city of Karnali Province. Tremors were felt as far as New Delhi.
