India rushes 62-tonne aid to Nepal as it walks the talk on ‘first responder’ role

India has rushed 62 tonnes of emergency aid to Nepal since deadly flash floods struck on Wednesday, emerging as the first major country to physically deliver humanitarian assistance to the Himalayan nation.

HT reported on Friday that India was the first country to physically deliver aid to Nepal after the disaster. The prompt response reinforces India's "first responder" tag, reflecting its growing record of delivering aid and assistance to disaster-hit countries, from Türkiye and Syria to Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.

By Friday evening, India had sent 62 tonnes of aid in three airlifts, while several other countries and international organisations—including the United States and China—were still mobilising assistance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah within hours of the disaster, conveyed his condolences and said India was ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance. He also said Indian teams were coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts.

Other countries and international organisations have also pledged or begun providing assistance to Nepal. HT has accessed details of how governments and global organisations are rallying around the disaster-hit country.

Nepal: The Nepali government has said it can mobilise up to $229 million for disaster relief. The figure includes resources from the Prime Minister's Natural Disaster Relief Fund and the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, along with up to $164 million in emergency assistance that the World Bank has indicated could be mobilised.

India: India has sent 62 tonnes of emergency relief supplies in three airlifts. The first, an IAF C-130J aircraft, carried 10 tonnes of temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines. The second, a C-17 aircraft, carried 37.5 tonnes comprising 28.5 tonnes of relief items such as tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, dewatering pumps, kitchen sets and generator sets; eight tonnes of medicines; and one tonne of food items. A third flight carrying another 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance left for Kathmandu on Friday.

India's contribution has been announced primarily in physical relief supplies rather than as a cash commitment.

China: China has committed emergency supplies and cash assistance to Nepal. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming said coordination for the assistance had been completed, although the mechanism for transferring the cash and delivering physical supplies was still being worked out. Nepal has declined offers of foreign search-and-rescue contingents as a general policy, saying its own security agencies are capable of handling the operation.

UAE: The UAE has allocated $10 million through the UAE Aid Agency for urgent humanitarian assistance. The agency is coordinating with local authorities and international organisations to deliver the aid.

UK: The United Kingdom has pledged £5 million ($6.8 million) in humanitarian assistance for relief and recovery. It has also deployed a Rapid Deployment Team to Nepal to provide consular support to British nationals and their families.

Australia: Australia has announced a $5 million humanitarian assistance package.