Foreign ministry asks Nitish Kumar to defer trip to Nepal

The External Affairs Ministry has suggested to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to defer his visit to Nepal and undertake it at a "more opportune" time.

According to sources, the chief minister was earlier given the approval to travel to Janakpur in Nepal as was desired by him.

However, after the recent visit by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra, it was felt that this was not the right time for the chief minister to travel to Nepal.

"The chief minister was requested to defer his visit and undertake it at a more opportune time," sources said. Massive relief and rescue operations are underway in Nepal as it struggles to recover from the 7.9-magnitude earthquake of April 25 which has left more than 7,000 people dead and thousands others injured.

The earthquake claimed more than 50 lives in Bihar, which shares an international border with Nepal.