Photo credit: @SwPrayer|X
Kathmandu: The entire government machinery, as well as non-government sectors, have been mobilized in Nepal after last night’s 6.4 magnitude earthquake with epicentre at Jajarkot, in which so far 157 people died and 375 were injured. Most of the deaths have happened in Jajarkot and Rukum West districts, Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs stated today.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stated he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives and damage due to the earthquake in Nepal. “India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and is ready to extend all possible assistance. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and we wish the injured a quick recovery,” he stated on X.
Hundreds of private residences as well as government structures were also damaged due to the incident. The minor injured are being treated in local and district hospitals and the seriously injured are being airlifted to Kathmandu, Surkhet and Nepalgunj.
Today morning, the Nepalese Prime Minister Pushkant Dahal ‘Prachanda’ visited the affected districts along with doctors, health workers and essential medicines and relief materials and met with the affected families. He instructed the concerned agencies to immediately make the search, rescue and relief management work more effective.
Today under the chairmanship of the Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, the Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, Secretaries of various Ministries, Heads of Security Agencies and representatives of concerned agencies had a meeting to analyse the facts of the incident, review the work done in the field of search, rescue and relief and the impact of the earthquake-affected Jajarkot and Rukum West districts. The meeting accorded topmost priority to the rescue work as well as the treatment of the injured in local hospitals. The government is ensuring the delivery of essential medical equipment to the affected areas quickly, and keeping health manpower ready in Surkhet, Nepalgunj and Kathmandu for further treatment.
Food and temporary accommodation (tents, tripal) as immediate relief arrangements, are being ensured, blankets, mattresses, and sleeping bags are being despatched to the affected districts.
The government today designated Surkhet as the main centre and Nepalgunj as a subsidiary centre to mobilize resources as needed and mobilize search and rescue operations and relief materials through a one-door system through the District Disaster Management Committee. It immediately sent 5.5 million Nepali rupees to the District Disaster Management Fund of Jajarkot and Rukum West, for search and rescue and corpse management. It also decided to send a specially trained team to the affected areas and make necessary arrangements to immediately open the roads blocked due to the earthquake.
The meeting expressed its sincere gratitude for the good-natured proposals received from the Allies and foreign missions for assistance in disaster management, and it was decided that further details and damages would be requested later if necessary.
– global bihari bureau
