Nepal’s crisis like our own: Modi

New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India considers Nepal’s present crisis like its own and urged all “to come together to identify problems and resolve them”.

Modi made such remarks in a meeting with Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhayay at his office on Friday.

The courtesy meeting was mostly focused on the situation in Nepal in the aftermath of the Great Earthquake, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation bids.

PM Modi expressed his confidence that the Nepalis are able to rebuild the damaged structures on their own. “In this context, we need to manage resources and create a conducive environment.”

Recalling the Gujarat earthquake of 2001, when he was the chief minister of the state, Modi shared that over 1200 aftershocks were recorded on a day.

“Gujarat shook the whole day, we experienced aftershocks for days and days,” Modi shared his experience with the ambassador. “In the aftermath of a calamity, we should remain alert for security and awareness.”

Upadhayay informed Modi that PM Koirala is awaiting the final report of the damage caused by the earthquakes and that Nepal would hold the international donor conference on June 25.

Amid efforts to set a bilateral visit by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, it would difficult for the PM to go to India without the post disaster needs assessment.

According to the ambassador, the visit of Koirala figured in the meeting. Modi said that both the sides can sit together to finalise a mutually agreed date.

Meanwhile, National Planning Commission Vice-chairman Govinda Raj Pokharel also held consultations with senior officials at the National Niti Ayog of India and National Disaster Management Authority regarding the rehabilitation of earthquake victims and Nepal’s reconstruction efforts.
(ekantipur)