India & Natural Disaster Management

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 02 May 2015 20:28

http://www.dailyo.in/politics/nepal-ear ... /3490.html

Treasure hunters strike
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Durbar Square in Kathmandu has been reduced to rubble. Buried in debris are beautiful statues and intricate wood carvings of ancient temples, which are worth a fortune at auctions in the West. At a time when the Nepalese army and the police are busy with rescue and relief operations, thieves are having a field day foraging through the ruins. Locals have managed to catch a gang of thieves in the act, while security has since been tightened in the area. Given the increasing law and order problems across the country, it is impossible for the police to guard the debris 24x7. Many of Nepal's ancient treasures could be lost forever.

India versus China and Pakistan
With Modi government going all out to help Nepal, India's friends in the neighbourhood are feeling left out. China and Pakistan, it is believed, have complained to the Nepalese government that the Modi sarkar is more interested in self-promotion than in genuinely helping. Reporters accompanying Indian relief helicopter missions were cited as an example of Indian aggrandisement. Much to the dismay of Indian media, the Nepali government since has barred journalists from accompanying relief helicopters. The concerned Army and Air Force officers tried to explain that they were willing to carry Nepali, Pakistani and Chinese journalists so that the world could gauge how bad the situation actually was. After a 24-hour deadlock, better sense prevailed and now even international journalists are accompanying Indian Air Force's rescue helicopters to far-flung areas of the quake ravaged country.

The other face of RSS
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is seen by many in India as a communal and divisive force. But Nepal saw the humanitarian face of the RSS in the post earthquake relief operations. Close to 1,000 swayamsevaks have been working round the clock since last Saturday. The RSS set up a special helpline at its Kathmandu headquarters, at Keshab Dham, within three hours of the quake. The helpline has received more than 10,000 calls from all over the world and volunteers claim to have helped connect 6,000 people with their families. Leading the RSS' charge at ground zero is Dattatreya Hosabale, the number two man in the Sangh hierarchy. And contrary to public perception about the RSS, volunteers have been helping Christians, Buddhists and Muslims too without discriminating on the basis of religion.

Kudos Nepal's Army
For decades now, the more than one lakh strong Nepali army have been seen by the people as the "puppets" of the King. But the exemplary effort and selflessness of soldiers during the post quake rescue and relief, have won the hearts of many across the country. While the Nepali Congress Party government of prime minister Sushil Koirala has garnered heavy criticism from the people for its sloth, the army is drawing high praise. Army men have helped clear blocked roads, accompanied relief trucks and even swept the debris lying on the streets. Each person being pulled out alive by the Nepali army is being wildly cheered by the people.

Takes more than determination
Led by their director general OP Singh, some ten teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) have been doing a stellar job looking for life amid the ruins. These teams have penetration radars, sniffer dogs and tons of determination. What they don't have is the latest technology, which is available with the French and American rescue teams. The international rescue teams have equipment that allows them to pick up even the faintest signs of life. It gives them a precise sense of where they need to drill, which is also why the French and the Americans have been able to pull out more people alive from the debris than anybody else. The Modi sarkar should immediately procure the same equipment for our NDRF personnel as well, so that they have more to rely on than mere determination.

Saviours from the sky
Pilots of the Indian Air Force have been assigned the toughest flight paths by the Kathmandu control centre. Despite the absence of proper helipads whilst they brave inclement weather, IAF helicopter pilots have been carrying tons of equipment to the most affected areas. On the first such sortie in the Dhading area, IAF pilots distributed all the relief material they had been carrying. But many victims did not get any relief and started to get desperate. Without any hesitation, wing commander Amit Sood asked his navigator to leave behind the food that had been packed for the crew, reflecting the selfless spirit of the Indian armed forces.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 02 May 2015 23:03

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 1h 1 hour ago

#NepalEarthquake #IAF's MI-17 helicopter arrives at #Barpak with relief.

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 1h 1 hour ago

#NepalEarthquake Nature's fury in #Barpak. Flattened houses.

58 retweets 10 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake #IAF transported a 29-member multi-national #RedCross team & essentials 2 #Dhunche & #Barpak areas.

51 retweets 23 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 3h 3 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake ... loading MI 17 of IAF for deployment at Dhunche, Nepal.

54 retweets 32 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 3h 3 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake A #RedCross team with members from #Canada, #Finland, #Philippines & #Hongkong ...(1/2)

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 02 May 2015 23:12

pankajs wrote:http://www.dailyo.in/politics/nepal-ear ... /3490.html

Treasure hunters strike
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Durbar Square in Kathmandu has been reduced to rubble. Buried in debris are beautiful statues and intricate wood carvings of ancient temples, which are worth a fortune at auctions in the West. At a time when the Nepalese army and the police are busy with rescue and relief operations, thieves are having a field day foraging through the ruins. Locals have managed to catch a gang of thieves in the act, while security has since been tightened in the area. Given the increasing law and order problems across the country, it is impossible for the police to guard the debris 24x7. Many of Nepal's ancient treasures could be lost forever.

Looks like hordes of Lara Croft gangs have descended onto the site of destroyed ancient temples in Nepal pillaging its priceless heritage. They will come in many forms and colors, missionaries, charities, rescuers and survivors. Exit control needs to be strengthened. But given the already stretched administration it would be difficult. I think Nepal Govt could issue ordinance against such act and that Western Agencies would be obliged to locate and return such artifacts. The rescuing teams should be asked to sign sworn documents saying that they are not taking any such prohibited items. It may look awkward but signing a simple pre printed forms may not be difficult at the disembarkation point.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 02 May 2015 23:20

CNN International ‏@cnni Apr 30

Drone footage shows #Nepal villages in urgent need of aid, but unreachable due to landslides: http://cnn.it/1zx4ROd

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 02 May 2015 23:26

ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY @adgpi · 8h 8 hours ago

Operation Maitri
#NepalEarthquake #IndiaArmyRescueandReliefWork
The Engineer teams at Barpak are involved in... http://fb.me/35xkDbR3C

Operation Maitri
‪#‎NepalEarthquake‬ ‪#‎IndiaArmyRescueandReliefWork‬
The Engineer teams of Indian Army at Barpak are involved in providing access and opening roads to establish road communication and cleared 85m track using skid steers and JCB. The Task Force also extricated one fatal casualty yesterday while clearing debris bringing the total number of bodies recovered by Indian Army Engineer Teams to eight. The Engineer Task Force at Barpak is also providing assistance to the local population in repairing houses and helped reconstruct three houses.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 02 May 2015 23:33

No word can describe it

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 02 May 2015 23:39

ChopdaSaab ‏@Keisar_ Apr 30

Nepal is not even touching any aid from Pakistan. Least Pakistan must do is take it back and feed their own people. Aawam Dua Degi. #Nepal
27 retweets 22 favorites

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 02 May 2015 23:51

Vinayak Desai
‏@vinayak_desai

@rajuparulekar please check whats xtian are doing. Do u support this?

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 02 May 2015 23:58

APF deposits Rs 63.5 million in PM Relief Fund

KATHMANDU, MAY 02 - The Armed Police Force (APF) has deposited Rs 63.5 million to the Prime Minister's Natural Disaster Relief Fund in a bid to support the victims of the Great Quake.

Koshraj Wanta, Inspector General of Police (IGP) of APF on Saturday handed over a cheque bearing the amount to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala at the latter's official residence at Baluwatar.

The amount was collected from the salary of all the APF personnel, according to DSP Ajaya Chatkuli. RSS

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 01:15

http://www.indianembassy.org.np/index2. ... NlaCXXzmRU

Advisory on Import and Distribution of Relief Materials in Nepal

May 2, 2015

Subsequent to the massive earthquake that struck Nepal on 25th April, 2015, Government of Nepal has issued number of instructions and guidelines for simplifying import and distribution of relief materials. However, there have been certain doubts expressed by various individuals and organizations regarding procedure to be followed to supply relief materials to people in Nepal.

To clarify the doubts expressed, Indian Mission in Kathmandu has examined these instructions and held series of discussions with various stakeholders in Nepal. The consignor in India can dispatch the relief materials consigned to NGOs, INGOs or individuals based in Nepal. The relief materials can be cleared free of Customs duty and taxes applicable in Nepal for which a procedure prescribed by the Government of Nepal has to be complied with by such NGOs, INGOs or individuals.

Under this procedure, complete records will be maintained for the material imported by the Department of Customs in Nepal at the time of its import either through International Airport or Land Customs Stations. In the cases of imports from Land Customs Stations the importer will be required to approach the jurisdictional CDO of the Land Customs Station from which imports are made. Contact details of such CDOs at the border district in Nepal are available on Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal website www.moha.gov.np. CDO at the land border will recommend the transfer of relief materials to the concerned districts as desired by the importer. Based on this recommendation from the CDO, Nepal Customs will allow duty-free clearance of the imported relief material. A copy of this record would be provided to the NGO/ INGO/ Individual (hereinafter referred as ‘importer’). After receiving this record the importer is required to contact the Chief District Officer (CDO)/ Secretaries assigned for relief operation in various affected districts such as Dhading, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk etc.

The contact details of these CDO/ Secretaries has been published on the website of Indian Embassy at Kathmandu (www.eoiktm.org). The importer will be responsible for transporting the imported relief material to these districts and contact the CDO/ Secretaries. These Government of Nepal officials will then co-ordinate the distribution of these relief materials to various parts of the affected districts. The co-ordination is being prescribed to avoid duplication. In case the importer is an individual, possession of goods will not be given to him. Rather the goods will be directly transferred to the concerned CDO.

The importer can work in co-ordination with these CDO/ Secretaries to carry out the actual distribution of the relief materials. After the relief material is fully distributed, these officials will certify the proper utilization of these materials for the intended relief efforts. This record would then be required to be produced to the Department of Customs, Government of Nepal at the place of import for final reconciliation within 30 days. If the material is certified by the designated officials to be completely utilized for the intended relief exercise, no customs duty or taxes would be charged. However, if the prescribed certificate is not produced within 30 days to the Nepal Customs, then applicable duty, charges and fine would be payable to the Government of Nepal.

In case the individual/ NGO/ INGO opt for importing the relief materials after full discharge of the Customs duty, then above-mentioned procedure is not applicable. The duty-paid materials can be distributed directly by the individual/ NGO/ INGO after making suitable logistical arrangements. However, in case they face any problems in such distribution they may contact the concerned CDO/ Secretaries in Nepal or may contact the officials from Indian Mission at Kathmandu as detailed below.

The donors from India also have an option to dispatch the material addressed to the “Government of Nepal” clearly mentioning that the supplies are meant for relief work. In such cases, prescribed agencies in Nepal will take control, warehouse the material and distribute it for relief work. However, the sender would have no role to play in distribution of relief supplies. In such cases no duty/ taxes would be payable in Nepal.

Government of Nepal in their Press Release dated 27th April, 2015 have also clarified that the relief materials immediately required are Tents (small, medium and large), Mattresses, Tarpaulin, Blankets, Water Purifiers, Sanitation kits, Utensils and other similar materials useful for outstay.

This advisory has been prepared to clarify and facilitate the distribution of relief materials from Indian donors. They have been compiled based on understanding of the local applicable laws and discussion with the concerned stakeholders in Nepal. In case of any doubts please contact details of the Embassy of India, Kathmandu Control Room at:

Phone Numbers: 00977-1-2081122 & 00977-1-2081141

E-mail: [email protected]

For any further queries, the following officers can be contacted:

(i) First Secretary (Economic) at 00977-9851107008

(ii) First Secretary (EC) at 00977-9851107001.

For relief material crossing Birgunj border, please contact Ms. Anju Ranjan, Consul General, Birgunj at the following contacts/address:

Tel: 00977-51- 532211/520231

Mob: 00977-97213 00033

Email: [email protected]

For the relief material crossing Bhairahwan border, please contact, Mr. Raj Kumar Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi at the following number:

Mob:0091-8800595591

00977-9800776798/9

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 01:16

http://indianembassy.org.np/index2.php? ... rRRwhpJMi8

Government of Nepal

Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

Singh Durbar, Kathmandu

Nepal

PRESS RELEASE

In the presence of Rt. Hon. PM on April 30th, following decision have been taken by Central Calamities and Relief Committee to deal with the situation created by the devastating Earth Quake:

1. Secretaries of Home , Commerce , Industries , Agriculture , Finance and Rural Development Ministries will collectively collect the necessary materials by 30th April, 15 and make them public after approval through central calamities and relief committee. Then after inform the foreign commission for their acceptance.

2. To build temporary shelters by using local available materials in coordination with the district calamities and relief committee, local authorities and rural development divisional office where tarpaulin and other materials have not been reached.

3. To manage the distribution system of relief materials collected by various NGOs/Cos etc in coordination with the local CDO assuring there is no duplication.

4. To remove the debris/ dead bodies under the command of Nepalese Army involving Nepal Police and Nepal armed police force as well giving priorities to dismantling the damaged buildings.

5. Ministry of Physical planning and transport shall reopen the halted transport system at the most affected area by rebuilding/or through maintenance the damaged bridged and roads immediately.

6. Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation should collect the detail data of damaged archeological sites and also remove the debris. The ministry should also take necessary action in coordination with home ministry to protect the remains.

7. To take immediate effective action for the distribution of collected relief materials under the leadership of Commerce minister from today only.

8. To take immediate effective action for the distribution of collected/ or bought medicines and materials under the leadership of Health minister.

9. Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct the Ambassadors in India, Pakistan and Thailand to buy 100, 50 and 50 thousand tarpaulin respectively and send them to Nepal immediately.

10. To give responsibility to Culture , tourism, civil aviation and irrigation ministry to mobilize the helicopter services for carrying out the relief and rescue operation.

11. To make a team comprising NA, Nepal Police and APF for immediate removal of debris, managing dead bodies, relief distribution and taking measure to stop the possible epidemic in each constituency of the affected districts. To find suitable place for building temporary shelters / toilets along with drinking water supply and electricity both. To deploy one joint secretary at every headquarters of affected districts. Also a special class civil servant should be deployed at each head quarters to coordinate with the center( Kathmandu)

12. To provide every joint secretary, who are deployed at headquarters of affected districts, one set of CDMA phone set. He/ she should be provided a truck to carry out the relief operation at each constituency of affected districts. And district veterinary office should support the team to manage the carcasses.

13. Following special measure should be taken to support the clause 10 of the decision taken by Cabinet on 25/04/2015.

a. TIA Custom office should check and keep the records of taxes/ duties on all the relief materials and supportive equipments that the relief team has brought with them via TIA.

b. The district development officers and security agencies and customs officers shall keep all the records of taxes and duties of the relief materials and equipments if passed through different land customs stations. These records shall be sent to the CDO of respective district.

c. In case of the relief materials collected by an individual, NGOs and INGOs for the distribution, the record shall be kept at the warehouse opened by the Government of Nepal. At the same time every details like the registration of the organization, contact number, authorized person shall be kept.

d. The relief materials collected by an individual, NGOs and INGOs after the distribution of the relief materials the same shall be approved by CDOs of the respective district within 30 days followed by information to the Customs officer. If not, then the duty charges will be levied and action will be taken as per the law.

Uttar Kumar Khatri

Spokesperson

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 01:22

Relief goods for Nepal quake victims held up at customs: UN

KATHMANDU: Some of the relief material for survivors of Nepal's devastating earthquake was being held up at the country's only international airport because of customs bottlenecks, the United Nations said on Saturday, as the death toll from the disaster passed 6,600.

Nepal exempted tarpaulins and tents from import taxes on Friday, but UN Resident Representative Jamie McGoldrick told Reuters the government had to loosen customs restrictions further to deal with the increasing flow of relief material.

READ ALSO: Nepal rules out finding more quake survivors

"They should not be using peacetime customs methodology," he said. Material was piling up at the Kathmandu airport instead of being ferried out to victims, McGoldrick said.

There was no immediate response from the government but Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat had appealed to international donors on Friday to send tents, tarpaulins and basic food supplies, saying some of the items received were of no use.

"We have received things like tuna fish and mayonnaise. What good are those things for us? We need grains, salt and sugar," he told reporters.

US military aircraft and personnel were to arrive in Kathmandu on Saturday to help in relief operations. One of their tasks would be to deal with the growing piles of aid material.

Brigadier General Paul Kennedy of the US Marine Corps told Reuters six military aircraft, including two helicopters, were to arrive, accompanied by 100 Marines and lifting equipment, under an agreement reached with Nepal's government earlier in the week.

UN World Food Programme Executive Director, Cousin (R), tours the Humanitarian Staging Centre (HSA) near Kathmandu airport. The HSA is the main dispatch hub for foreign relief supplies arriving by air. (Reuters Photo)

"What you don't want to do is build up a mountain of supplies", blocking space for planes or more supplies, Kennedy said.

There were other bottlenecks besides customs.

Nepali government officials have said efforts to step up the pace of delivery of relief material to remote areas were frustrated by a shortage of supply trucks and drivers, many of whom had returned to their villages to help their families.

"Our granaries are full and we have ample food stock, but we are not able to transport supplies at a faster pace," said Shrimani Raj Khanal, a manager at the Nepal Food Corp.

Army helicopters have air-dropped instant noodles and biscuits to remote communities but people need rice and other ingredients to cook a proper meal, he said.

The government said the death toll from last Saturday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake had reached 6,621, and that more than 14,000 people were injured.

READ ALSO: Complete coverage — Nepal-India earthquake

SNIFFER DOGS

In Kathmandu, teams with sniffer dogs were moving slowly through ruined buildings to locate bodies still buried in the rubble a week after the disaster. Elsewhere, volunteers were stacking up bricks recovered from the debris to begin the slow process of reconstruction.

Many Nepalis have been sleeping in the open since the quake, with survivors afraid to return to their homes because of powerful aftershocks. Tents had been pitched in Kathmandu's main sports stadium and on its only golf course.

According to the United Nations, 600,000 houses have been destroyed or damaged.

The United Nations said 8 million of Nepal's 28 million people were affected, with at least 2 million needing tents, water, food and medicines over the next three months.

The worry now is how to prevent the outbreak of disease.

"Hospitals are overflowing, water is scarce, bodies are still buried under the rubble and people are still sleeping in the open," Rownak Khan, UNICEF's deputy representative in Nepal, said in a statement.

"This is a perfect breeding ground for diseases."

arun · Post by **arun** » 03 May 2015 08:19

X Posted from the "Nepal and Bhutan News and Discussion" thread.

arun wrote:
arun wrote:I guess the twits in Nepal’s Annapurna Post who are the quoted source for the article in Telegraph Nepal, expect Indian Aircraft to fly back empty to India after delivering disaster relief cargo to Nepal .

Meanwhile report of “The Nepali officials are not at all happy with the Indian relief activities” as “Indian media” has “been portraying Nepal negatively and been projecting Nepal as being inefficient to carryout relief works on its own” is to say the least ungracious of Nepal’s bureaucracy :

Nepal: India disaster politics exposed!

In another report in the same Nepal Telegraph quoting the same Annapurna post, the Peoples Republic of China is reportedly upset with India’s aid effort in Nepal:

Disaster Politics: China asks Nepal to limit Indian activities
India, Nepal spar over IAF aid sorties as Kathmandu airport clogs up.

Hindustan Times :

“There are two major problems. The IAF doesn’t share its sortie schedule with the Nepalese army and takes hell of a time on the ground in an already congested airport,” Brigadier General PS Bogati, a Nepalese one-star officer who is the deputy chief of the airport coordinating centre here, told HT on Tuesday.

Telegraph Nepal quoting Annapurana Post reports P.R. China’s Nepali ideological partners in Communist political parties like Unified Maoists, Nepal Communist Party-Maoist and Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, bad mouth India’s prompt and whole hearted earth-quake aid:

India ignoring national sovereignty: Nepal leaders

More from Telegraph Nepal this time quoting Kantipur Daily. Here India must make it known that India is concerned about the well-being of ALL Nepali’s without parochial geographic bias and that means that even Nepali’s living in the Northern part of Nepal are entitled to Indian aid. Attempts by self-serving interests to reserve aid for Kathmandu based folk by bottling it up there based on specious arguments of keeping the Peoples Republic of China happy, is to be resisted:

Nepal Army exhausted by India Army Relief Team

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 11:15

Vikas Swarup @MEAIndia · 16m 16 minutes ago

Helping Hands. Amb Rae and Indian officials at 'Langar' that has been set up for residents of Bhaktapur.

20 retweets 17 favorites
Vikas Swarup @MEAIndia · 2h 2 hours ago

Relief via land: More than 233 trucks of relief material pass through Gorakhpur -Sanauli-KTM route to reach affected areas.

<--------------------->

Communists are always critical of Indian influence. They want more of China so that they can control administration. India has refused to vacate the relief space and abandon Nepal to Chinese devices. Such articles which seem critical of India are propagandu articles by these elements only and mainstreamed Maoists after the accord. Had it been such a walk over by them then they would have got their party manifesto as Constitution of Nepal. It has not happened till date and after NaMo unlikely to happen. Just wait for India to announce extremely liberal credit line to Nepal Govt for reconstruction efforts and involvement of Indian Industries in a big way. Any way Nepal can not be divorced from India geographically and culturally . Mornore doctrine prevails. China should be more wary of its own active involvement.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 11:20

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 13m 13 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake Flight to safety: Evacuees from #Chumling on board an #IAF MI-17 V5 helicopter.

1 retweet 0 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake Casualty evacuation from #Melamchi, #Sindhupalchok by IAF's MI-17 V5.

62 retweets 37 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 5h 5 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake IAF and Indian Army Hospital and Rapid Action Medical Team in action at Lalitpur, near Kathmandu.

62 retweets 33 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 5h 5 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake Overcoming Trauma: Children with mother at ease at a Field Hospital run by the RAMT near Kathmandu.

50 retweets 22 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 6h 6 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake IAF evacuates 1 Argentine and 4 Chinese nationals from Barpak and other areas.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 11:38

Death toll reaches 7,040

The death toll in Sindhupalchok, which is the most affected district, stands at 2,580 while the number of the dead is 1,180 in Kathmandu, 659 in Nuwakot, 410 in Gorkha, 311 in Kavre and 306 in Rasuwa.

There have been considerable damage to buildings as well with 41,233 houses been destroyed and 149,659 houses have sustained severe damage. At least 10,477 government buildings have been fully demolished while 14,188 others are partially destroyed.

The quake toll according to development region stands at: 52 dead and 307 injured in Eastern Development Region, 6,369 dead and 12,552 injured in Central Development Region, 418 dead and 1,205 injured in Western Development Region and 2 dead and 25 injured in Mid-western Development Region.

No loss of life has been attributed the Great Quake in Far-western Development Region despite seven government buildings and six houses partially damaged.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 12:06

TIA landing ban on heavy cargo planes

KATHMANDU, MAY 03 - The Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has imposed restriction on the landings of heavy aircraft transporting humanitarian aid and chartered services to Nepal to prevent further damage to the five-decade-old runway. The decision means aircraft weighing more than 196 tonnes will not be permitted to land.

The TIA handled a record 447 flight movements on Wednesday.

However, the scheduled international flights are permitted for operations with any type of aircraft.

A ‘notice to airmen’ was issued on Friday, the airport authority said on Saturday. Airport sources said that many countries, including the US and Canada, have been asking “to lift the restriction”. The US has planned to bring in relief materials on a Boeing 747 aircraft--often referred to by its nickname the Jumbo jet. Canada plans to fly in relief materials in an-8 Wing CFB Trenton.

In the wake of April 25’s devastating earthquake, the country’s lone international airports has seen three aircraft land with heavy payload of relief materials–Boeing 747-400 from Israel, Airbus A350 from France and Ilyushin Il-76 from India.

TIA officials said the decision was taken after more than three cracks appeared on the airstrip. More than 300 rescue flights, including 150 chartered, have landed at the TIA since the Great Earthquake rattled the country on April 25.

“As the runway problem has started to reappear, we cannot afford to permit landing of heavy jets,” said a high-level official at the TIA. “Unless we act immediately, the country’s only international airport could be in a risk of closure.”

This is the second instance in the last two years that the TIA has imposed such restriction due to cracks on the runway. In August 2013, the airport authority had asked all international carriers to find alternatives to wide-body aircraft flying into the airport. The cracks were first appeared on the runway in June 2011, which has since become a perennial problem.

A report submitted nearly a year ago by Ayesa Ingenieria, a Spanish company contracted to evaluate TIA’s runway and taxiway, had revealed that the TIA runway is not capable of handling wide-body aircraft due to its ageing asphalt foundation. The runway’s upper surface comes off instantly under stress when heavy jets land.

Meanwhile, the residents in the surrounding areas, particularly in Koteshwor, have complained the airport authority that they were terrified by the loud noise of the big jets. They have warned the authority that they would picket the airstrip unless it responds to their plea immediately.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 12:09

Politics over Relief

Three parties agree to allow all to distribute relief to quake survivors

KATHMANDU, MAY 03 - Three major political parties, including two ruling parties have agreed to allow everyone to distribute relief support to the April 25 earthquake survivors. The decision comes despite the government's insistence of ensuring that the relief distribution takes place through a one-door system.

A meeting of the senior leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist) was held this morning in order to discuss about the increasing public outcry over the failure to provide relief to the quake survivors, especially in the remote parts of the country.

An agreement was reached to allow anyone interested to distribute relief materials as per the need in the quake-affected areas but with due attention to avoid any duplication, said senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba.

As distribution of relief materials through one-door system was getting delayed, all interested can distribute the relief support in the areas affected by the quake under government's coordination, he added.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who attended the meeting, told media persons that a very fruitful discussion was held about ways to make the relief distribution effective and about the upcoming Legislature-Parliament meeting scheduled for May 7.

Also speaking on the occasion, CPN UML Vice-chairperson Bidya Devi Bhandari said matters relating to the rescue, relief , resettlement and reconstruction works were discussed during the meeting and the role of the government for the same.

She also said that though it had been difficult to reach relief materials to the remote parts of the country due to geographical complexity, things were gradually improving.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 16:22

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 5h 5 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake #IndianArmy's Engineer Task Force clearing debris in and around KTM with help from Nepal Govt.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 16:28

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 41s 41 seconds ago

#NepalEarthquake An #IAF MI-17 V5 reaches #Chumling with relief material bringing joy to the people there.

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 4m 4 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake Evacuation of foreign nationals from #Chumling by IAF's MI-17 V5.

1 retweet 2 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 8m 8 minutes ago

#NepalEarthquake Evacuation of Nepalese people from #KyanjinGompa (#Langtang ) 12,500 ft.

7 retweets 5 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi View translation
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 1h 1 hour ago

#NepalEarthquake AVM Upkarjit Singh, Task Force Commander IAF, at #Barpak with villagers.

38 retweets 26 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake Maj Gen JS Sandhu, Task Force Commander of Army, comforts residents of Barpak area.

54 retweets 21 favorites
New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake The lone surviving building in a village in #Barpak area.

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 4h 4 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake #Lukla, one of the most challenging places to fly in and land. Evacuations frm there by #IAF.

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New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 4h 4 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake Evacuations from Syangboche.This unpaved airstrip is the closest 2 Mount Everest & Everest Base Camp

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 16:35

Vikas Swarup @MEAIndia · 3h 3 hours ago

Pokhara ground update: IAF pilots plan sorties for the day. #OperationMaitri continues in full swing.

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Vikas Swarup @MEAIndia · 3h 3 hours ago

Pokhara ground update: Indian helicopters at airport. 18 tons of relief materials airlifted yest to diff locations.

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Vikas Swarup @MEAIndia · 3h 3 hours ago

A stitch in time for Buddha Poornima. IAF airlifts 22 young trainee monks from Hinang Monastery, Gorkha Dist to KTM.

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Vikas Swarup @MEAIndia · 4h 4 hours ago

Trauma Centre in Kathmandu built with Indian assistance provides critical healthcare to victims of quake.

SriKumar · Post by **SriKumar** » 03 May 2015 17:44

^^^ 3rd picture from top (helicopters sitting on an airstrip- or is that a helipad), one can see a landslide on a hill, lower right of the picture.

Regarding demurs from Nepal officials about 'not fully clearing operational details', I am not sure what is the source of that complaint, or if something like this is even warranted in a chaotic, emergency situation like this where every minute counts; but it may also be a case where the people being benefited by the operations would not quibble about such things.

Some of the Dhruv 'landings' are beyond surprising. Maybe deejay mian can comment on the technical difficulty of 'landing'/holding on a surface with a serious slope to it, or landing on a tiny patch on a hilltop. From the pics, it seemed like the rotors were never stopped. I am beginning to think that stuff like this happened on an even larger scale during the Uttarakhand/Kedarnath floods which had fewer landings spots, with pilgrims stuck in worse conditions (the whole region had a cloudburst).

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 03 May 2015 20:01

^^^ There are so many pictures of helicopters and I can see many friends doing what helicopter guys do best.

The other thing that folks may have noticed is that almost all non standard landing photos are of IA helicopters and not IAF helicopters. This is not to say IAF helicopters can't or will not but is more a reflection of freedom within the SOP's. IAF SOP's have become more conservative due past events and experiences in relief and rescue. One more factor here is the relative size and clear area required by a Dhruv in comparison to a Mi 17.

No pictures are available of air drops or even video coverage means they are finding places to land (mostly). Plus air dropping aid has its own challenges as the needy come right below the helicopter resulting in a melee and even the aid falling on and injuring people below.

Flying in the valleys and bowls is challenging because of 'ventury effect' on the wind. Plus each re-entrant or spur in the valley will induce its own eddies hence the winds are very turbulent, unpredictable near the hills and calmer in the center of the valley. Landing is therefore even more challenging because of the same winds.

As the day heats up there is more turbulence in the air and more cumulous cloud formation in the valley giving rise to new challenges. Valleys also differ in local pressures greatly, hence a clear weather in one valley does not mean a clear weather in the adjoining valley.

So the challenges in flying -
- Stronger winds, unpredictable changes in direction
- Rising temperatures means more turbulence
- Weather is / can be fickle in the hills. Can change quickly

For landing, this is what one could consider as broad guideline:
- Land into the wind, avoid tail winds
- Table tops are deceptive, and difficult to judge in height and distance. Very careful approach and landing with reserve of power is recommended. Max load for given altitude is not a good idea.
- Approach and land in a direction which has a clear getaway for failed approach - that is do not land in to a hill.
- As far as possible land on a flat, firm area. Each type will have some incline limitation.
- Switching off and restarting takes time so to do it quickly, normally do not switch off but reduce throttle (to idle) and disembark, off-load, as long as safety is not compromised.

ritesh · Post by **ritesh** » 03 May 2015 20:15

chaanakya wrote:Vinayak Desai
‏@vinayak_desai

@rajuparulekar please check whats xtian are doing. Do u support this?

Headline translation: "We Don't Eat Bible"

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 03 May 2015 22:00

Bade wrote:Properly constructed RCC structures have withstood the quake compared with run of the mill ones. Even the compound walls seems to be standing well. I see some damage to a free standing structure on the roof top in one of the homes. This corroborates with the expert (Miyato ?) who was quoted in the NYtimes blog about better awareness and construction quality in newer structures.

Yes, Unreinforced structures have minimal chance of surviving even the most mild of tremors. Even the reinforced structures should be inspected by qualified engineers. There is very good chance that many would have suffered permanent damage. Unless the structure is designed to return to equilibrium by releasing the quake energy in some other way, the energy will go into shearing, bending and crushing reinforcing. This a normal part of the function. The fear would be that the structure would fail at the next after-shock or a quake few years hence. Just because the structure is standing now does not mean it is undamaged. People should not re-occupy these structure until they are inspected.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 03 May 2015 22:21

^^ Good advice, Theo. Hopefully there are agencies doing some re-certification. The NY times blog did quote outside experts already flying in to study the structures standing following the quake.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2015 23:45

Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 1h 1 hour ago

#NepalEarthquake Relief and evacuation tasks performed by IAF with Nepal Army at Dhunche today. Set-2.

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New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 1h 1 hour ago

#NepalEarthquake Relief and evacuation tasks performed by IAF with Nepal Army at #Dhunche today. Set-1.

[img]hhttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEGVBuxUkAA7Uix.jpg[/img]

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New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake Cracks in the mountains in the high altitude region.

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New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake An Israeli Army Rescue Team of 4 & body of a Nepalese guide being airlifted frm #GhoraTabela by IAF.

Israeli Rescue team and Nepali guide being airlifted by IAF

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New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake A 5 member #Chinese rescue team was evacuated from #Lamabagar, NE Nepal to KTM by #IAF 's MI-17 V5.

Chinese Rescue team being rescued by IAF.

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New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake Stranded American Journalists request TFC AVM Upkarjit Singh for evacuation to Kathmandu at Dhunche.

American Journalists requesting evacuation to Kathmandu

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New Delhi, Delhi
Sitanshu Kar @SpokespersonMoD · 2h 2 hours ago

#NepalEarthquake Sniffer Dogs being airlifted by #IAF Heptr to #Dhunche to search for humans from the debris.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 04 May 2015 00:20

The IAF MI-17 taking international medical teams across is impressive. Sadly, IAF can't help Tibetans across Nepal border who must have been hit in exactly the same way! It is indeed strange how noise is made even though the rescue efforts have come from across India and performed in excellent and humane way, but not one complaint about Tibetans.

vasu raya · Post by **vasu raya** » 04 May 2015 02:58

new developments seen,

1) Air delivered field hospitals, Israel and Canada, the distances they made it
2) Perhaps impacts the Chinese plans for a rail line to Kathmandu
3) Schools teaching emergency response to kids as part of the curriculum

ALH landing anywhere they like

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 04 May 2015 03:24

How long did the indian Rescue team take ot build the trauma center? It looks quite impressive - better than permanent PHC facilities in rural India.

SriKumar · Post by **SriKumar** » 04 May 2015 03:29

deejay wrote:^^^ There are so many pictures of helicopters and I can see many friends doing what helicopter guys do best. The other thing that folks may have noticed is that almost all non standard landing photos are of IA helicopters and not IAF helicopters. ....This is not to say IAF helicopters can't or will not but is more a reflection of freedom within the SOP's. IAF SOP's have become more conservative due past events and experiences in relief and rescue. One more factor here is the relative size and clear area required by a Dhruv in comparison to a Mi 17.....

thanks deejay.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 04 May 2015 06:03

India was told "do your job quietly, and dont tell anybody about it". Now that the opposition has had the time to prepare, instead of being silent, they are hitting back. How dare the ibdians show what they are doing! The indian twitter wizard, hacks and lords have their tails firmly between their legs as the country is maligned. There is not one indian social media messanger in the top posters. Nobody follows folks like @spokespersonMOD, the MEA andIA accounts are worse and KTM embassy has a totally unrecognizable presence.

The nepali pro-mao, pro-us are having a field day unquestioned:

Anup Kaphle @AnupKaphle -- nepali, buzzfeed, ex wapo left may 1, in DC. not one word re. indian help.retweets negative nepali and indian tweets. 22K followers

kunda Dixit @kundadixit Editor, Nepali Times. no mention of india even with indian pictures. chinese and us propaganda front and center. 55.6k followers. retweets xinhua.

the great tfta official sources are tweeting non-stop:

U.S. Embassy Nepal @USEmbassyNepal has 73.4k followers. now actively tweeting US forces photo ops. @usairforce joins in too. random pakistanis are high up in trends:

Amer Khan ‏@KhanAmerKhan -pakistani soldier, 17.6k followers Nepal Army Chief met Pakistan Army rescue relief team & expressed gratitude & thanks Pakistani nation for support

random politicians have smelled opportunity

swati chaturvedi @bainjal 4k followers Forget sensitivity & objectivity sections of Indian media glorified govt! You are not PRO's! Not your job.#indianmediagohome
Jayram Yerra ‏@jayyerra #GoHomeIndianMedia #indianmediagohome dear Nepali brothers and sisters, we Indians apologize for Indian media deeds, we do suffer from them
Syed Ali Geelani ‏@sageelani Syed Ali Geelani retweeted Dawn.com amidst #GoHomeIndianMedia #indianmediagohome

and of course, goes without saying:

Shekhar Gupta @ShekharGupta 107k Oops, see what's trending in Nepal, #GoHomeIndianMedia Anger at "patriotic" channels forgetting Nep not Indian state

The chinese have sent in their own armed sentries. They will defend their encroached land. And India cant even report straight. Cant you folks even follow the official spokespeople?

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 04 May 2015 09:18

Meanwhile, the Vatican has donated $100,000 to the people of Nepal. The Vatican's Pontifical Council Cor Unum pointed out that the aid is "a first and immediate concrete expression of spiritual closeness and paternal encouragement for the people and the affected areas" on behalf of Pope Francis.

The donation will be channeled directly to a local church in Nepal. Cor Unum is the Vatican council assigned to organize and coordinate humanitarian aid in times of natural disasters and crises.

vina · Post by **vina** » 04 May 2015 10:29

chaanakya wrote:

This is some amazing flying and calls for brilliant skills, not to mention very dangerous too with very little margin for error. There was another picture with the Dhruv landed with the skids on a hump and the tail rotor hanging over a precipice.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 04 May 2015 11:58

Reuters Top News ‏@Reuters 2h2 hours ago
Three rescued eight days after Nepal quake as U.S. Marines arrive http://reut.rs/1bUodSg

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 04 May 2015 12:12

Israel Foreign Min. @IsraelMFA
According to @UNOCHA, Israel sent the largest medical aid delegation to #Nepal, http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Aid ... quake.aspx … #IsraelinNepal

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 04 May 2015 12:13

During Kedarnath floods there were some Helicopter accidents and many airforce officials were killed. I think this time they have learnt their lessons of flying and landing in difficult terrain so much so that this time there is no accident. ALH/Dhruv has validated its utility for Army and IAF.

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 04 May 2015 12:14

http://setopati.net/society/6437/NA-cho ... um=twittee

A Nepal Army MI 17 chopper crashed today in Dhunche, Rasuwa district. There was no casualty though, said the Nepal Army

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 04 May 2015 12:21

Nepal would be staring directly into biggest humanitarian crisis it has ever faced since 1934 if rehabilitation and reconstruction work does not keep pace with the small window of good weather is open. During Monsoon, it is going to be extremely difficult for the folks there and I don't think even aid agencies from western world would be able to do much. Roads become impassable during normal monsoon time and after quake it would certainly be so. can't be repaired fast enough. Villages can be reached only by choppers. I think they would not be in a position to undertake long sorties. India will have to think if it wants to continue to provide chopper support after first phase of SAR, RR is over. Nepal Govt has to lead and take control of building itself and rehabilitate IDPs and reconstruct destroyed townships and villages, economy from grounds up. India would be playing a supportive role and hopefully credit line to buy materials and manpower for reconstruction could be extended after suitable agreement is reached. India should make it clear that it would not provide any transit rights to chinese from its border and Nepal should be informed to keep Indian sensitivities abt china and security imperatives in mind.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 04 May 2015 12:23

Shreeman wrote:http://setopati.net/society/6437/NA-cho ... um=twittee

A Nepal Army MI 17 chopper crashed today in Dhunche, Rasuwa district. There was no casualty though, said the Nepal Army

So the only one Mi17 with NA is out of commission , hopefully for brief period. I hope we don't hear news abt IAF/IA.