Nepal floods: Indian team arrives with medical and tunnel rescue experts to support relief operations

An 11member Indian team arrived in Nepal on Saturday to assist local authorities in rescue and relief operations following devastating flash floods that have killed more than 500 people and left nearly 2000 others missingThe team which includes medical personnel and tunnel rescue experts was deployed at the request of the Nepal government according to Indian Embassy sourcesThe Indian personnel are expected to assist in areas affected by the flash floods where authorities are continuing largescale search rescue and relief operations amid extensive damage to infrastructure and difficult terrainIndian team includes medical and tunnel rescue expertsThe deployment of the Indian team comes as Nepal continues efforts to locate thousands of people reported missing after the floods swept through several parts of the Himalayan nationAccording to embassy the 11member team includes medical personnel who are expected to support emergency response efforts as well as specialists with expertise in tunnel rescue operationsNepalese authorities have indicated that international assistance could be particularly useful in situations involving complex rescue operations that require specialised technical skillsThe team has arrived as local security forces continue to play the primary role in search and rescue efforts across the affected regionsFlash floods cause widespread destruction in central NepalMassive flash floods swept through Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal on Wednesday causing extensive loss of life and widespread damage to settlements and public infrastructureMore than 500 people have been killed while nearly 2000 others remain missing according to the information available so farThe floods also damaged roads bridges and hydropower infrastructure disrupting transport and hampering access to some affected areasThe scale of the destruction has complicated rescue operations particularly in mountainous regions where rugged terrain and damaged road networks have made it difficult for emergency teams to reach some locationsNepal prioritises deployment of local security forcesOn Friday Nepal said it wanted to prioritise the maximum deployment of its own security forces which are familiar with the countrys environmental conditions and difficult terrainForeign Minister Shisir Khanal said the government was nevertheless prepared to seek and accept international assistance in cases where specialised expertise was requiredThe focus on local security forces reflects their familiarity with the affected areas while foreign teams are expected to provide technical support in operations that require specialised equipment or skillsRescue and relief efforts are continuing across the affected districts as authorities work to locate missing people and restore access to isolated communitiesIndia and China asked to help restore damaged transport linksThe flooding has severely affected transport infrastructure in several areas prompting Nepal to seek assistance in restoring connectivityThe Nepal government has requested India and China to help construct 42 Bailey bridges in floodhit areas to resume transport servicesBailey bridges are portable structures designed for relatively quick assembly and can be installed without heavy machinery or specialised tools making them useful in areas where permanent infrastructure has been damaged or access is limitedThe bridges are expected to help reconnect areas where existing road and bridge networks were damaged or washed away by the floodsSearch and relief operations continueAuthorities in Nepal are continuing largescale operations as they assess the full extent of the damage caused by the flash floodsWith inputs from PTI