Operation Maitri

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Operation Maitri
Part of 2015 Nepal earthquake
Operational scopeHumanitarian relief
Planned by Indian Armed Forces, National Disaster Response Force and Ministry of Home Affairs
ObjectiveUndertaking relief and rescue operations in Nepal, Evacuation of Indian and foreign citizens from Nepal.
Date25 April 2015 (2015-04-25)
Executed by Indian Armed Forces, National Disaster Response Force
OutcomeRescue and relief operations ongoing, over 43K Indians were evacuated, over 150 foreign tourist were evacuated and were provided transit visa to as many as 785 foreigners [1]

Operation Maitri (Operation Amity) was a rescue and relief operation in Nepal by the government of India and Indian armed forces in the aftermath of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. Indian government responded within few minutes of the quake. [2] It started on 26 April 2015 and also involved Nepali ex-servicemen from India's Gurkha Regiments for interface for guidance, relief and rescue. [3]

Contents

Background

The April 2015 Nepal earthquake (or the Himalayan earthquake) [4] occurred at 11:56 NST on 25 April with a moment magnitude (Mw) of 7.8 and a maximum Mercalli Intensity of IX (Violent). Its epicenter was approximately 34 km (21 mi) east-southeast of Lamjung, Nepal, and its hypocenter was at a depth of approximately 15 km (9.3 mi). [5] It is the most powerful disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake. The quake killed nearly 8,900 people in Nepal.

Mount Everest avalanche

The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing at least 17. The death toll surpassed that of the 2014 Mount Everest avalanche, making it the most lethal day on the mountain. [6]

An Indian army mountaineering team recovered the bodies of 19 mountaineers from Everest base camp and rescued at least 61 stranded climbers from Mount Everest. Indian Air Force helicopters reached Mount Everest on the morning of 26 April for rescue operations.

Aircraft used

The Indian Army sent Major-General JS Sandhu to Nepal to oversee the rescue and relief efforts. The Indian Air Force mobilised its

Up to eight Mi-17 helicopters are being used for missions such as air-dropping relief materials. [8] [9]

Response

As Nepal's immediate neighbour, India was the first-responder to the crisis, by providing relief "within six to seven hours of the earthquake," [10] [11] Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed immediate dispatch of relief and rescue teams, including medical team, to Nepal. The Indian Foreign Secretary, S. Jaishankar announced that six more National Disaster Response Force teams would be sent to Nepal in the next 48 hours. He also announced that the aircraft sent to Nepal would not just rescue Indians, but citizens of other countries as well. [12]

Air India reduced fares on flights bound for Kathmandu from Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi, and announced that it would also carry relief material on its flights. [13]

Timelines

See also

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References

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  3. "Indian Army launches operation Maitri for Relief Efforts in Nepal". news.biharprabha.com. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  4. Chidanand Rajghatta (26 April 2015). "s this the 'Big Himalayan Quake' we feared?". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. "M7.8 – 29 km ESE of Lamjung, Nepal". United States Geological Survey. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  6. "First survivors of Mount Everest avalanche reach Kathmandu". Fox News. The Associated Press. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
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  8. "Nepal earthquake: India's aid to Nepal named 'Operation Maitri'". The Times of India. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  9. Rezaul H Laskar (26 April 2015). "Nepal quake: India launches 'Operation Maitri', airlifts many". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  10. Bhardwaj, Mayank, Dutta, Ratnajyoti (28 April 2015). "China? India? We're grateful for their help: Nepal's ambassador to India". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. "It took Modi minutes to help neighbouring Nepal after earthquake". Business Day Live. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
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