10 September 2026 (Navroze Bureau) : India has sent its fifth aircraft to Nepal as part of ongoing humanitarian relief and rescue operations following the devastating floods and landslides that have caused widespread destruction in the neighbouring country.
The aircraft is carrying an 11-member specialised rescue team, along with rescue equipment and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines to support emergency operations and affected communities.
Specialised Rescue Team Deployed
The latest Indian deployment includes 11 rescue personnel equipped to assist with specialised emergency operations.
Their deployment comes as Nepal continues large-scale search and rescue efforts in areas where roads, bridges and other infrastructure have been severely damaged.
Medicines Sent for Affected Communities
Along with the rescue personnel, the aircraft is carrying 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines.
The medical supplies are intended to support people affected by the disaster and strengthen Nepal’s emergency healthcare response as relief operations continue.
India Steps Up Humanitarian Assistance
India has been sending repeated consignments of relief material and specialised personnel to Nepal as the scale of the disaster has become clearer.
The Indian government has also deployed experts including rescue personnel, forensic specialists and medical teams. India has supplied around 95 tonnes of relief material overall, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Nepal Faces Massive Rescue Challenge
The disaster has left thousands of people missing and caused extensive damage to infrastructure across affected areas.
Rescue teams are particularly focused on hydropower projects, where hundreds of workers are feared to have been trapped in tunnels. International teams from several countries are assisting Nepal’s authorities in the search.
India-Nepal Cooperation Continues
The latest aircraft reflects India’s continued support for Nepal during the emergency.
The rescue mission combines personnel, specialised equipment and medical supplies, allowing India to contribute both technical expertise and immediate humanitarian assistance.
Rescue Operations Remain Ongoing
Despite the difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure, rescue teams continue to search for survivors.
Recent operations have resulted in the rescue of people trapped in hydropower tunnels, providing some hope that additional survivors may still be found.