“Exceptionally Generous”: Nepal Regarding PM Modi and India’s Crisis-Related Efforts

In the wake of the disastrous flood that killed over 600 people, Nepal commended India’s efforts to assist it in times of distress and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi “exceptionally generous” on Saturday.

Nepal’s finance minister, Swarnim Wagle, told that New Delhi has promised to contribute generously to restoration.

Following a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border, an ice-rock avalanche caused a torrent of water, mud, and debris to flow downstream through central Nepal on Wednesday, destroying cities and villages, sweeping away houses, cars, highways, bridges, and hydropower projects.

Amid intermittent rainfall in the flood-affected areas, rescue services had to work quickly to evacuate over 2,500 individuals while over 2,400 others remained unaccounted for. India has sent 57.6 tonnes of emergency supplies to Nepal’s flood-affected regions since Wednesday. In response to a request from Kathmandu, an 11-person Indian team consisting of medical professionals and tunnel rescue specialists also travelled to Nepal to support local authorities.

Wagle said Nepal was dealing with the crisis “in phases.” “The immediate priority is to rescue people who can be saved, including those stranded or trapped in hydropower plants,” said the finance minister, adding that the Nepal Army has airlifted 1,930 people.

He further said efforts were underway to airlift relief supplies to areas such as Dhunche, Rasuwa and Syaphru Besi, which had been cut off after roads were damaged.

“The next phase will focus on early recovery, including temporary shelters and cash-for-work programmes, followed by the daunting task of reconstruction,” he added.

For search and rescue operations, more than 11,000 security personnel—including more than 5,000 members of the Nepal Army—have been deployed. When asked if Nepal would look to other nations for assistance, Wagle replied that it would, emphasising India’s backing.

“The Government of India and Prime Minister Modi have been exceptionally generous. I was in the government when the 2015 earthquake struck, and I recall the generosity of the Indian government was really noteworthy,” he said.

Wagle said special supplies had also been flown in from New Delhi following floods and that India had indicated it would provide “very generous assistance for reconstruction.” The finance minister added, “such support has also been forthcoming from all our neighbours.”