Kathmandu: Three helicopters from the Nepali Army and an aircraft from Nepal Airlines Corporation have been dispatched to the earthquake-affected regions of Jajarkot and Rukum West in order to provide rescue and relief operations.

“The army has used its Sky Trucks to fly supplies, medical personnel, and humanitarian supplies to the earthquake-affected areas in Jajarkot and Rukum West, according to Prime Minister’s Private Secretary Ramesh Mall. In a similar vein, the Twin Otter aircraft of Nepal Airlines Corporation is ready to transport medical personnel and supplies to Chaurjahari Airport.”

“We are based at the airport for rescue, treatment, and relief coordination. Three helicopters have been dispatched with health workers, medicines, and relief materials. The plane is ready to go,” he said. “The Prime Minister, ministers, and lawmakers will be heading to the affected areas. The Prime Minister has given directions to ensure that all necessary work is carried out.”

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Energy Minister and Jajarkot’s lawmaker Shakti Basnet, and Rukum West’s lawmaker Janardan Sharma have reached the affected area in Jajarkot, along with relief supplies and health workers.

Similarly, the Karnali Province government has sent a helicopter with health workers and medicines from Surkhet, as informed by Chief Minister Rajkumar Sharma. He said, ‘The Karnali government has started continuous work in rescue, treatment, and relief by air and on the ground.’ The government has designated Chaurjahari Hospital and the airport as the focal points for treating the injured, as per the Prime Minister’s Press Advisor Govind Acharya.

Previously on October 22, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake had rattled Kathmandu Valley and adjoining districts at 7:39am. There were no reports of damage or casualty.

Earthquakes are common in Nepal which is situated on the ridge where the Tibetan and Indian tectonic plates meet and advance two meters closer to one another every century which results in pressure which is released in the form of earthquakes. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks killed around 9,000 people in 2015.

As the government’s post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) report noted, Nepal is the 11th most earthquake-prone country in the world.

Prime Minister Prachanda directs security bodies for immediate rescue and relief

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has directed all three security agencies to engage in rescue and relief operations immediately and expressed grief over the disaster.

“Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property in the earthquake on Friday night and has mobilised all the three security bodies for the immediate rescue and relief,” reads a post from the prime minister’s office on X.