India sends 'Langar' teams to Nepal to feed quake victims

New Delhi, Apr 29: Two teams of Indian volunteers have been sent to open 'Langars' to feed about 20,000 people every day in quake-ravaged Nepal.

One Langar team of 25 men with 24 metric tonnes of supplies from Haryana is being sent to Kathmandu on Wednesday. Another Langar team of 18 men with 30 metric tonnes of supplies from Punjab will be sent on Thursday, April 30.

[We must do whatever possible for Nepal victims, says Amitabh Bachchan]

"Each of these teams is capable of providing cooked meals for 10,000 people every day for a period of one month," an official release issued after a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajith Seth said.

The statement said a total of 1,052 citizens were rescued or evacuated by Indian teams to military hospitals so far.

It added 152 tourists including 19 foreign mountaineers were also rescued while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel rescued 11 persons and 115 bodies from under the debris.

Talking about the help extended to the people coming out of the quake crisis, the government said a total 9,509 people were evacuated by air while 785 foreigners were give gratis (good will) Visas.

"1,245 foreigners entered India with Visa or Transit Visa," it added.

Detailing the volume of aid dispatched to the eastern neighbour, the statement said 95 assorted tents and 3,030 blankets had reached Kathmandu while 2,450 blankets and 180 tents in four trucks were enroute to Kathmandu from Kanpur.

"Ten trucks each with mineral water, dry food and one truck carrying medicines to Nepal has been sent from Uttar Pradesh," it said.

37 metric tonnes of food, 22 metric tonnes of milk and milk products (including baby food), 112 metric tonnes of mineral water, 14 metric tonnes of noodles is planned to be sent to Kathmandu.

PTI