2 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : India has stepped up its humanitarian assistance to flood-hit Nepal, with a fifth aircraft carrying an 11-member specialised rescue team, advanced equipment and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines departing for the neighbouring country.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed the latest deployment on Wednesday, saying the aircraft was carrying specialised rescue personnel along with emergency medical supplies.
11-Member Rescue Team Sent to Nepal
The latest aircraft is carrying an 11-member rescue team equipped with specialised search-and-rescue equipment.
The team is being deployed as rescue operations continue in areas badly affected by the devastating floods and landslides, including locations where difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure are complicating relief efforts.
5.5 Tonnes of Essential Medicines
Along with rescue equipment, the aircraft is carrying 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines.
The medical supplies are intended to support communities affected by the disaster as authorities deal with injuries, displacement and the disruption of basic healthcare services.
India’s Fifth Relief Aircraft
The latest flight is the fifth Indian aircraft sent to Nepal as part of the ongoing emergency response.
India has been sending relief and rescue assistance in multiple consignments as the scale of the disaster has become clearer and Nepal’s search, rescue and recovery operations have expanded.
Nepal Flood Death Toll Rises
The latest assistance comes as the disaster’s death toll continues to climb.
Nepal Police reported that the number of deaths had reached 1,127 by Wednesday, while rescue and recovery operations continued across several affected districts.
Rescue Operations Face Difficult Conditions
The disaster has severely damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure, making access to some affected areas extremely difficult.
Search teams are also dealing with mud-filled valleys and hydropower tunnels where workers may still be trapped or missing. Indian technical teams have joined Nepali forces in efforts at difficult tunnel sites.
Specialised Technology Being Used
The rescue effort has increasingly relied on specialised equipment and technology.
Teams have deployed drones and other tools to search difficult terrain and locate people who may be stranded or trapped. Forensic methods, including DNA analysis, are also being used to help identify victims.
India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ Response
India’s assistance is being provided under its broader Neighbourhood First approach and its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) framework.
The continuing deployment reflects India’s effort to provide emergency support to Nepal during one of its most severe recent natural disasters.
Support Goes Beyond Rescue
India’s assistance has included not only rescue personnel but also relief materials, medicines and specialised technical expertise.
The focus is gradually expanding from immediate search-and-rescue operations to medical assistance, victim identification and support for damaged infrastructure.
India-Nepal Cooperation Intensifies
The disaster has brought Indian and Nepali agencies together in a complex cross-border humanitarian operation.
With several areas remaining difficult to access, specialised teams are expected to continue working alongside Nepalese authorities to locate missing people and provide assistance to affected communities.
Relief Efforts Continue
The departure of the fifth aircraft underlines India’s continuing involvement in Nepal’s disaster response.
As rescue teams work through challenging terrain and authorities assess the full scale of the destruction, medical supplies and specialised personnel are expected to remain crucial to the relief effort.