KATHMANDU, April 27

As many as one dozen countries have dispatched technical support, including medical and search and rescue teams to assist in search, rescue and relief operations.

However, almost all of these foreign supports have been mobilised inside Kathmandu Valley, leaving the most affected districts outside the Valley, including Gorkha, Dhading, Lamjung, Kavre, Nuwakot.

India, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Turkey, the US, Israel, Poland, South Korea and France have extended support to Nepal.

Search and rescue teams from Japan, Russia Belgium, Switzerland, and Singapore are arriving soon, Nepali Army said. These countries are sending various light, medium and heavy equipment that include equipment capable of hearing sounds, locating zones where people are trapped and for breaking rocks and rescuing people, according to Colonel Naresh Subba of Directorate of Disaster Management of Nepali Army.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay today arrived in Kathmandu with a condolence message from the Bhutanese King on the death of thousands of people due to the quake and handed over a cheque of US$ one million to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala as support for the victims, according to Prime Minister’s foreign affairs adviser Dinesh Bhattarai.

Dr Arun Neupane, Director of the Directorate General of Nepali Army said the Indian Army has sent three medical teams of 50 members each. They are being deployed at different quake-hit locations in the Valley. One of the Chinese teams is being deployed in Balaju area of Kathmandu, while another search and rescue team is involved in search and rescue efforts in Dhulikhel, Kavre district.

One civilian and one military support teams arrived from Pakistan yesterday. The Pakistani team was one of the first foreign medical teams to set up a field hospital in Bhaktapur. Pakistan’s civilian search and rescue team has been mobilised in Tribhuvan International Airport. Pakistan embassy informed that all Pakistani nationals living in Nepal are being airlifted, most probably tomorrow.

A 25-member search and rescue team has arrived from the US, while one more team of 17-member will be coming. They are yet to be deployed.

A health team from Sri Lanka is currently being deployed in Dolalghat outside the Valley, while one more team from Bhutan is being deployed in Trishuli, Nuwakot, by tomorrow evening, official said.

Foreign support teams have brought dry food, water, tents, medicine, and other goods for victims of Saturday's quake.

People of Tripureshwor, Salyankot, Salyantar, Gumdi, Marpak VDCs of Dhading district have said they spent two nights under the open sky. “We faced hailstorm and rain after the quake and repeated aftershocks,” said a local of Tripureshwor-8, Dhading.

“Even those who survived are dying due to absence of food, shelter and basic medicines supply.”

A Home Ministry joint secretary responsible for rescue and relief operations accepted the government had about 4 lakh tents, but were unable to distribute them to needy people in all the affected areas.

The Army said that people were reportedly trapped in at least 19 locations in Kathmandu Valley, including Budget Hotel, Thamel; Sattalle building at Kapan; Nabil Bank, Balaju; Balaju-Nepaltar bridge, Sitapaila; Ason-Indrachowk-Bhotahiti stretch as well Gongabu-Ganeshthan area.

Other places where people are trapped inside buildings include Dallu, Harisiddhi, Kastamandap, Basundhara and Dhapasi and among others.

Search and rescue teams have already been mobilised in some of the areas. In some other places, we are sending teams of expert to rescue trapped people.

“One of the major challenges we are facing now is receiving information where exactly people are trapped,” Neupane said.

At a press conference at Army Headquarters today, Major General Binoj Basnyat, who is coordinating Nepali Army’s rescue efforts, said the national force, along with other security agencies and foreign support teams are trying to reach all affected zones as soon as possible.

The Nepali Army is taking the responsibility of coordinating with all international medical as well as search and rescue teams so as to effectively carry out rescue efforts.