India Provides 68.5 Tonnes of Relief Supplies, Technical Teams and Bailey Bridges to Flood-Hit Nepal

India has dispatched 68.5 tonnes of relief materials and specialized technical teams to flood-hit Nepal to assist with ongoing search, rescue, and infrastructure restoration efforts, according to the Indian embassy. The deployment follows devastating flash floods that swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors on Wednesday, causing widespread damage to settlements, roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure.

As part of the humanitarian assistance, a fourth flight carrying 11 tonnes of relief supplies landed in Nepal on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed. The shipment included blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets, and hygiene kits. It also carried a specialized technical contingent with equipment for search and rescue operations, along with a team of forensic experts for DNA analysis.

The deployment addresses specific requests from Nepal for foreign expertise in DNA testing, forensic work, and specialized tasks. An 11-member Indian technical team comprising doctors, paramedics, and tunnel engineers arrived in Kathmandu on Friday. The team conducted an on-site reconnaissance of hydropower tunnels in the Trishuli area of Nuwakot district and performed an aerial survey of the Chilime and Langtang areas.

Rescue operations are currently focused on hydropower tunnels where workers are believed to be trapped. An 82-member joint security team consisting of personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police has been working to clear debris. While Nepali security forces have successfully rescued 191 workers from tunnels at various hydropower projects, reports of additional trapped individuals prompted the request for Indian assistance. Many people are believed to be trapped inside tunnels linked to the Upper Trishuli-1 and Trishuli-3A hydropower projects in Rasuwa district near the Nepal-Tibet border. Rescue efforts have faced complications due to adverse weather conditions and mud and debris blocking tunnel entrances.

In addition to search and rescue support, logistical infrastructure aid is underway. Sixteen trucks carrying equipment for a 230-foot single-lane modular steel Bailey bridge have arrived in Nepal. The embassy stated that equipment for seven additional Bailey bridges will be supplied soon, accompanied by technical installation teams. Nepal has sought assistance from both India and China for the construction of 42 Bailey bridges to restore transport links in affected regions, noting that these portable bridges can be assembled rapidly without heavy machinery or specialized tools.

"Cross-border logistical support and rapid infrastructure deployment during natural disasters highlight the critical importance of regional supply chain resilience and technical collaboration. When critical infrastructure like transport routes and energy projects are severely impacted, the swift mobilization of modular solutions, such as Bailey bridges and specialized engineering teams, is essential for stabilizing affected regions and supporting recovery efforts." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes