Humanitarian Assistance: India Sends Bale Bridge and Relief Supplies to Nepal

New Delhi, August 27 – The Ministry of External Affairs has announced that India will provide a portable bale bridge to bolster Nepal’s flood‑relief and rescue campaigns after the Bhote Koshi river burst its banks on Wednesday. The sudden flood claimed hundreds of lives and left a trail of destruction across multiple districts.

Two Indian aircraft have already delivered a total of 47.5 tonnes of emergency material. A C‑130J aircraft landed late Wednesday with 10 tonnes of supplies, including temporary housing units, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and essential medicines. The next morning, a C‑17 Globemaster took off with an additional 37.5 tonnes, featuring flood‑proof tents, more blankets, water‑extraction pumps, kitchen sets, generators, eight tonnes of medical provisions and one tonne of food rations.

Ranveer Jaiswal, the ministry’s spokesperson, confirmed that India is also deploying a bale bridge to facilitate ground movement for rescue teams, allowing swift access to hard‑to‑reach villages. A dedicated control room operating round the clock has been established to coordinate with state governments of Indian pilgrims headed for the Kailash‑Manasarovar trek, and to maintain 24/7 helplines via the Indian embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing.

The disaster, triggered by heavy monsoon rains flowing from the Tibetan region into the Bhote Koshi, has caused extensive damage to residential areas, hydro‑electric projects, customs offices and power infrastructure. Nepal Police reported the death toll climbing to 270, with the highest number of bodies recovered in Chitwan district. Over 800 people are still missing.

India’s rapid deployment of both aerial relief and a mechanical bridge underscores the depth of Indo‑Nepal cooperation in disaster management, aiming to minimise loss of life and accelerate the restoration of essential services.