Nepal asks Indian and other foreign rescue teams to leave, says it doesn't need further help

Kathmandu: Nepal government on Monday asked rescue teams of all foreign countries including India's National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) to leave the earthquake-hit country. The Nepal government said that all rescue operations have been completed and it will handle the rest of the relief work while adding that the country does not need further support.

The major rescue work in Kathmandu and surrounding areas is over and the remaining operations can be handled by local workers, Information Minister Minendra Rijal said.

However, there was a lot of work remaining in the villages and remote mountainous areas that could be carried out by foreign aid volunteers along with local police and Army, he said.

Nepal government sources said that there were tensions in the country over 'undue publicity' of Indian rescue teams at the time of the crisis.

India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "All 34 countries carrying out search and rescue operation have been asked to withdraw from Nepal."

Confirming Nepal government's decision, NDRF chief OP Singh said, "All search and rescue teams of foreign countries have been asked to return back. India is one of them. We are coordinating with the Nepalese government. Our medical teams will stay back here. No team has returned to India. All the 16 teams are in Kathmandu and they are working on relief work."

Around 4,500 people from around 34 nations, including NDRF teams from India, came to Nepal after the April 25 earthquake to carry out the rescue work and pull people out of the debris.

Most of the rescue teams were carrying out operations in the worst affected districts of the Kathmandu Valley, Sindhupalchowk and Gorkha districts.

"It's more than eight days after the earthquake. The rescue teams have served their purpose and we are very thankful to them. The Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee has recommended the government to thank these teams for the work they have done for Nepal so that they can exit the country. It is up to the government to take a call now," Nepal Home Ministry official Laxmi Prasad Dhakal said.

"According to the guidelines of International Search and Rescue Group (INSRAG) guidelines, the search and rescue teams have to be carried out for seven days, when the survival chances are highest. The remaining search and rescue work will now be carried out by the Nepalese Army and police," he added.

However, all the relief and medical teams are still in Nepal carrying out their operations. The medical teams are expected to be in the country for some more time.

"The Health ministry will allow only a few teams of health workers to work in the country on the basis of their expertise. Others will be asked to return home.

"Relief teams are working in different teams, but topography and terrain of the nation is still acting as a major impediment in reaching out to the people. But foreign rescue team, the Indian and the American air forces are helping in reaching out to them," Dhakal added.

More than 7,200 people, including 54 foreigners have lost their lives in the 7.9-magnitude earthquake.

(With additional information from PTI)