Address needs of snow-hit quake survivors: PM

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council and directed the officials to immediately respond to needs of the snowfall-hit quake survivors in Gorkha.

According to PM’s political advisor, Bishnu Rimal, PM Oli directed the concerned ministries and the security agencies for emergency response in six VDCs in Gorkha district including Barpak, the epicentre of the April 25 earthquake.

PM @PM_Nepal directs security agencies & concerned ministries for emergency response of snow effected 6 VDC of Gorkha, to check necessity!

— Bishnu Rimal (@BishnuRimal) January 10, 2016

The meeting has directed the officials of the Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry to provide relief materials to the quake survivors who are having a hard time because of the snowfall in the mountainous region of the country.

The meeting has also decided to dispatch a team of doctors, under the supervision of the Nepal Army, to severely quake-hit areas.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Bhim Bahadur Rawal informed that the meeting focused on ways to provide relief to people especially at quake-hit Barpak and Laprak suffering through increasing cold coupled with the snowfall. "The meeting decided to dispatch the team from the Defence and Home Ministries with essential medicines to Barpak and Laprak on an army helicopter. "

Likewise, Home Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet said that the meeting also decided to send teams to other quake-affected hilly districts to provide immediate winter relief to quake survivors, adding that the teams will also provide tips on protection from cold.

Snowfall following rain and hailstorm that battered Laprak, Barpak and Ghyachchok of Gorkha district on Friday affected the normal life of the people.

The earthquake survivors had made a huge fire and put on whatever warm clothes they have to keep themselves warm, said the local from Barpak.

(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)