India handed over the first consignment of emergency relief materials worth INR 1 billion to Nepal on Sunday.

Following the earthquake in Jajarkot on November 3, 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his commitment to provide all possible assistance to Nepal.

A special Indian Air Force C-130 carrying the consignment of over 11 tons emergency relief materials that included tents and tarpaulin sheets, blankets and sleeping bags as well as essential medicines and medical equipment such as portable ventilators for the affected people landed at the Nepalgunj Airport this afternoon.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on behalf of the Government of India handed over the relief materials to Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka in the presence of Karnali Province Chief Minister Raj Kumar Sharma.

Further consignments of the relief material are expected to arrive in the coming days, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said.

“As a close friend and neighbor, India remains committed to extending all possible support to those affected by the earthquake in Nepal”, the Embassy further said.

India continues to be a first responder in crisis situations in its neighborhood and beyond.

Following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the Government of India was the first responder and carried out its largest disaster relief operation abroad - Operation Maitri.

India had also extended USD 1 billion to Nepal as part of its long-term assistance for post-earthquake reconstruction in housing, education, health and cultural heritage sectors and included reconstruction of 50,000 houses in Nepal’s Gorkha and Nuwakot districts.