Flood death toll rises to over 1,000
New Delhi. India on Wednesday sent its fifth consignment of over five tonnes of essential medicines to flood-hit Nepal and also dispatched an 11-member rescue team. The death toll from flash floods that hit the Himalayan country last week has risen to more than 1,000, Nepalese officials said. The rise in the death toll comes after rescue workers recovered more bodies from the affected areas. He said emergency teams had rescued more than 12,000 people, while about 4,000 were still missing. Search and rescue operations are underway.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on social media, India's fifth plane has left for Nepal. An 11-member rescue team equipped with special equipment and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines have been sent. India has so far delivered a total of 68.5 tonnes of relief material to Nepal. New Delhi had also sent a team of doctors and paramedics and technical crew along with equipment for search and rescue operations.
India had sent the first consignment of relief material on August 26, the day Nepal was hit by flash floods and devastation. The consignment was sent hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Nepali counterpart Balendra Shah. Modi had assured Balen Shah of providing all possible humanitarian assistance to deal with the situation.