How India is helping quake-ravaged Nepal

Responding quickly in one of its most extensive response to an international crisis, India has flown in relief material, rescue teams and medical supplies to quake-hit Nepal, where the death toll has soared past 4,000 and is expected to rise.

Also widening 'Operation Maitri', India has moved its rescue mission outside Nepal's capital into the epicentre of the devastating earthquake at Barpak village in Gorkha district, while its engineers opened up the road to Kathmandu from India.

The opening up of the road from India to Kathmandu means that relief materials and equipment can now be moved by road instead of just the air in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal.

One field hospital has been deployed at Rajdalgarh near Lalitpur with one orthopaedic specialist, one surgical specialist and one anaesthetist along with attached medical staff.

A team of 34 Indian doctors, a RO Plant, oxygen regenerators, medicines, 1,000 blankets, 100 tents, 3 teams of the National Disaster Relief Force, field hospital equipment, and Air Force Communication Centre vehicles have also been sent to Nepal.

India has so far deployed 13 military aircraft, three civilian aircraft of Air India and Jet Airways, six Mi-17 helicopters, two Advanced Light Helicopters, while two more Mi-17 choppers are kept in standby.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to ‘give Gratis Visas to foreigners coming to India from Nepal.

This means that foreigners stranded in Nepal can take an Indian Air Force flight to India without paying a visa fee. The government has also decided to grant visas on priority to those who are to be evacuated from Nepal.

Much like India's evacuation ops from Yemen, requests from other countries seeking help to evacuate its nationals from Nepal.

Nepal is not seeking Indian personnel but equipment and expertise.