KATHMANDU, JUNE 15
The vehicle handover ceremonies were held simultaneously at four locations-Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Consulate General of India in Birgunj, and the Pension Paying Offices in Pokhara and Dharan, according to the press release issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
Of the total, 22 ambulances were handed over in Kathmandu, while 7 each were distributed in Birgunj and Pokhara, and 4 in Dharan.
At the Kathmandu event, Prasanna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy, handed over the keys to representatives of beneficiary municipalities and rural municipalities from Bagmati, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces. Mayors, ward chairpersons, political representatives, and social workers were also present.
Shrivastava that gifting of ambulances has been one of the long-standing initiatives of the Government of India under the Nepal-India Development Partnership to bolster the efforts of the Government of Nepal to strengthen its infrastructure in health sector. He added that this initiative is a part of the larger robust and vibrant development partnership between India and Nepal which has expanded, deepened and diversified over the last seven decades.
Beneficiaries from all four locations expressed gratitude for India's continued support and said the ambulances would significantly enhance access to health services in remote and underserved areas.
India has been gifting ambulances to Nepal for over 30 years, prioritizing support to Nepal's health sector. Since 1994, India has donated a total of 1,049 ambulances across the country. In addition, India has provided 300 school buses to Nepali educational institutions, 200 vehicles to law enforcement and the Election Commission in 2022, and 15 electric vehicles to Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 2025 for the Sagarmatha Sambaad summit, the release further stated.
India and Nepal enjoy multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that is reflective of the closeness of the people of both countries. The extending of these logistical provisions reflects the continued commitment of the Government of India to the development of Nepal and to further strengthening of the people to people links between both countries, the embassy said.
