India has stepped up its humanitarian and disaster-response assistance to Nepal as rescue operations continue following the devastating Bhote Koshi River floods and landslides that struck the country on August 26.
A fourth Indian Air Force relief flight carrying around 11 tonnes of emergency assistance has been dispatched to Kathmandu, strengthening New Delhi’s ongoing support for Nepal’s rescue and recovery efforts. The latest mission combines essential relief supplies with specialised technical capabilities aimed at addressing some of the most difficult challenges emerging from the disaster.
The latest consignment includes blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets and hygiene materials. India has now airlifted approximately 68.5 tonnes of relief material to Kathmandu through four military flights. Earlier consignments included medicines, portable generator sets, food packets, water purification tablets and other emergency equipment.
A major component of India’s latest assistance is specialised support for tunnel rescue operations. An Indian technical team equipped for search and rescue and disaster-management tasks has reached Nepal and is working with the Nepali Army at hydropower tunnel sites in the Chilime and Langtang areas. These operations are focused on locating and rescuing people who may still be trapped in underground facilities following the floods.
India has also deployed a specialised forensic team to assist Nepal with the identification of victims. A 19-member Indian forensic contingent equipped for DNA analysis has begun supporting local authorities in the identification of mortal remains, adding an important technical capability to the wider relief operation.
Infrastructure restoration is another key part of India’s response. Sixteen trucks carrying equipment for a 230-foot single-lane modular steel bridge have reached Nepal. India has also announced plans to provide equipment for seven additional Bailey bridges along with technical teams to assist with their installation. The bridge support is intended to help restore transportation links damaged by the floods and landslides.
India’s assistance is taking place alongside efforts to locate and assist its citizens affected by the disaster. According to updates issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, 108 Indian nationals had been rescued from affected areas in Nepal, while efforts to trace other missing or uncontactable Indians continued. Separately, hundreds of Indian nationals stranded on the Chinese side have been moving toward Nepal, with the latest update reporting that 403 had safely crossed into Nepal from China and around 500 remained safe on the Chinese side.
The scale of the disaster remains severe. Nepal’s authorities reported on August 31 that the death toll had risen to 903, with more than 4,300 people still missing and over 10,000 people rescued. More than 20,800 security personnel are involved in search-and-rescue operations across the affected areas.
India’s response reflects a broader disaster-relief effort that goes beyond the delivery of supplies. By combining airlifted humanitarian assistance with tunnel-rescue expertise, forensic capabilities and bridge-building equipment, New Delhi is supporting both immediate lifesaving operations and the restoration of critical infrastructure in flood-hit Nepal.
The continuing assistance also underscores the close humanitarian and strategic relationship between India and Nepal, with Indian agencies remaining engaged as rescue, identification and rehabilitation operations continue.