Govt shows prompt rescue efforts to storm survivors

By Bishnu Nepal
KATHMANDU, April 1: The government has shown prompt rescue efforts to the victims of the huge storm that killed at least 27 people and injured over 400 others in various parts of Bara and Parsa districts on Sunday evening.

Various health workers’ teams have been sent to the affected areas, while ministers have reached out to the disaster survivors. Deputy Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav, state minister Dr. Surendra Yadav, Secretary Chandra Kumar Ghimire and director general of the Department of Health Services Dr. Gunaraj Lohani have reached the incident sites and inquired about the situation there. The ministry has dispatched a team comprising doctors and health workers led by joint secretaries Dr. Ramesh Kharel and Dipendra Raman Singh, also the ministry’s division chief.

Of the injured, 11 have been referred to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, two of them are reported to be in serious condition, the remaining are undergoing treatment at various hospitals–Narayani Sub Regional Hospital, National Medical College, Kalaiya Hospital, Advanced Hospital, Gandaki Hospital and Birgunj Health Care Unit, said the ministry.

“Additional medicines have been transported to the affected areas from the regional medicine store at Pathalaiya. The storm-hit areas have an adequate supply of medicines, drinking water and food items,” said the ministry’s spokesperson Mahendra Shrestha.

The emergency meeting held shortly after the disaster under the chairpersonship of the state minister Dr. Yadav had decided to launch prompt rescue, relief and treatment efforts.

The meeting also decided to dispatch various teams consisting of doctors and health workers from Janakpur, Hetauda and Chitwan to the disaster areas. “Additional workforce and medical teams are on standby in Kathmandu,” said Shrestha. Five ambulances have been available at the Tribhuvan International Airport to take the injured to hospitals in the Kathmandu valley, he said, adding that ambulances have been also sent to the affected districts.

There is no scarcity of blood to treat the injured, said executive director of the Nepal Red Cross Society Umesh Dhakal. “Volunteers have been mobilized for rescue and relief efforts. Blood is available in nearby districts and Kathmandu for the treatment of the injured,” he said.

Likewise, Nepal Army has also dispatched three separate teams including doctors and health workers to the disaster sites. “We will send additional health workers as per need,” Brigadier General Arun Kumar Neupane said.