‘India’s Support To Nepal Remains Strong’: Jaishankar As 2nd Batch Of Emergency Relief Materials Sent

The nine-ton consignment is aimed at aiding the quake-affected families in the mountainous northwest region, where people are facing a shortage of food, warm clothes, and medicines.

New Delhi: In the aftermath of a significant earthquake that shook Nepal, a second shipment of emergency relief materials sent by India landed in the Himalayan nation on Monday.

This nine-ton consignment is aimed at aiding the quake-affected families in the mountainous northwest region, where people are facing a shortage of food, warm clothes, and medicines, reported news agency PTI.

On Friday, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, which hit Jajarkot and Rukum West districts in western Nepal, killed 153 people and injured over 250 others. It also damaged around 8,000 houses, both public and private, according to officials.

In a post on platform X, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, "Second flight carrying 9 tonnes worth of emergency relief assistance lands in Nepal. India’s support to Nepal remains strong and steadfast in this difficult hour."

The first consignment of more than 11 tonnes of relief materials which included tents, tarpaulin sheets, blankets, and sleeping bags along with essential medicines and medical equipment was handed over to Nepal on Sunday.

The second consignment was transported to Nepalgunj by a special Indian Air Force C-130 and comprised essential medical and hygiene supplies, tents, sleeping bags and blankets, according to PTI.

"India continues to remain steadfast in extending all possible support to the Government of Nepal in the aftermath of the Jajarkot earthquake," the Indian Embassy said in a statement.

The relief materials include 625 units of plastic tarpaulin and tents, 1,000 units of sleeping bags, 1,000 blankets, 70 large-size tents, 35 packets of tent accessories, medicines and 48 other articles, officials said.

Meanwhile, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Jajarkot and surrounding areas at 4:31 p.m. (local time), according to the National Seismological Center.

The epicentre of the quake was at Ramidanda of Jajarkot, it said. This was followed by another 4.5-magnitude earthquake at 4.40 p.m., said another official.

On Monday, authorities revised the death toll from the earthquake to 153 from 157, citing duplication of some names.

Friday's quake caused the worst human and infrastructure losses since the devastating jolt of April 2015.

In 2015, a 7.8 magnitude quake damaged nearly 800,000 houses besides killing nearly 9,000 people, PTI reported citing the Post Disaster Needs Assessment Report, 2015.