KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 9

Deputy Prime Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka has cancelled his trip to the United Arab Emirates scheduled to take place from November 13 -17.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence was expected to lead the Nepali delegation to the 18th Dubai Airshow, 2023 in Dubai at the invitation of UAE crown prince Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 2 had endorsed the DPM's visit.

According to a press statement issued by the Defence Ministry's joint-secretary and Spokesperson Prakash Paudel, the Minister cancelled the trip over the recent earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum West. Now the Minister is engaged in the post-quake rescue and relief efforts.

'The earthquake caused significant casualties and property loss in Jajarkot and Rukum West, and the Deputy Prime Minister remains engaged in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts since the disaster struck. The trip to the UAE was canceled with a conclusion that it was not appropriate to set out for the foreign visit amidst the adverse situation at home,' the Ministry said in the statement.

The November 3 earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale with its epicenter at Ramidanda of Jajarkot has so far resulted in over 150 casualties and more than 300 injuries, including the casualties in neighboring Rukum West.