Disaster relief operations in Nepal  by the Army as part of the National response continues.  As part of the ongoing operations, Indian Army Medical Teams, Army Aviation Helicopters and Engineer Task Forces(ETF) reached out to affected population.  The command and control centers at Kathmandu and Pokhara are being augmented by additional officers. Army Relief Convoy moving by road is likely to reach Gorkha  tomorrow.

            Following stores have been/ are being inducted by the Army :-       

(a)        Army Aviation Helicopters have carried out Casualty evacuation of 110 people and rescued 120 stranded people on 29 Apr. A total of 49.4  tonnes of relief material has been disbursed on 29 Apr and 15.3 tonnes on 30 Apr, by Army and Air Force Helicopters. One additional ALH was inducted today to Pokhara (total 5 ALH as of date) and two Cheetah helicopters are standby at Gorakhpur.

            (b)        Three Field Hospitals are providing medical succor to the affected population. Operation Theatre, Lab, x-Ray, Triage Centre and Dental facilities have been activated. Mobile Medical Teams out of these hospitals are located at Barpak,  Rajdalgarh and seven more locations in Gorkha district. A total of 1,740 persons have been provided medical aid till now (210 patients treated including 20 surgeries performed today).

 (c)       A total of three ETFs have been inducted into Nepal. The Engineer team at Barpak are opening roads to establish road communication and have also extricated 6 Casualties.  The ETF at Jorbat & Basantpur is involved in clearance of collapsed buildings and debris. 

             (d)      One Aircraft is being sent with blankets, Tarpaulins, tents and plastic sheets, while another aircraft will carry similar stores to Kathmandu tomorrow.  Vehicle convoy from Kanpur will reach Gorkha tomorrow with 4,950 blankets, 525 tents, 50 tarpaulin and 800 plastic sheets.

Col Rohan  Anand, SM

PRO (Army)