PM Modi reviews Nepal relief operations, says India will provide 'all possible help' to Spanish nationals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the rescue and relief efforts in quake-hit areas at home and in Nepal on Monday night, and pushed for streamlining the operations and greater coordination among the stake-holders.

Chairing a follow-up meeting to review the progress of relief and rescue operations following the major earthquake in Nepal on Saturday, Modi took stock of the evacuation of stranded people from Nepal both by air and road and provision of relief supplies and material to affected areas.

The Prime Minister, according to a PMO statement, emphasized on ensuring proper coordination between the Centre and state governments both for ensuring smooth flow of relief operations in the affected states and to streamline the delivery of relief and rescue material to Nepal. He said all necessary medical help should be given to the injured, including treatment in India, if required.

The Prime Minister stressed on the need for effective coordination of relief operations within Nepal and especially at Kathmandu airport. He suggested ex-servicemen could be approached to help in the coordination effort.

Modi also made a broad assessment of the long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction work that would be required, especially in Nepal, and was briefed on the first steps being taken towards this end.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the progress of relief and rescue work being carried out by various agencies involved both in India and Nepal.

This was the third meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on the earthquake and relief and rescue operations since Nepal and Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh were hit by the quake.

The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Misra, Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra and senior officials of government, IMD, and NDRF.

Modi also assured Spain Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Garcia-Margallo y Marfil that India will provide all possible help to the people of the European country who are stranded in earthquake-hit Nepal.

Marfil, who is in India on a three-day official visit, also discussed cooperation between the two nations in various sectors including railways, renewable energy and the 'Smart Cities' initiative. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to share the topics discussed in his meeting with the visiting dignitary.

"Discussed India-Spain co-operation in railways, smart cities, renewable energy in my meeting with Mr. Jose Manuel Garcia – Margallo y Marfil," he posted. "Assured the Spanish Foreign Minister that India will provide all possible help to Spanish nationals in Nepal," he added.

India and Spain have a number of bilateral treaties and agreements with each other, with the bilateral trade between the two nations from January to August 2014 standing at US $3.37 billion.