External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday announced that India will extend a financial package of USD 75 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure in Nepal’s district affected by last year’s earthquake.
Jaishankar’s announcement came as he jointly inaugurated with his Nepalese counterpart NP Saud the Tribhuvan University Central Library and other reconstruction projects undertaken in Kathmandu after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
Speaking at the event, the EAM said he was happy to celebrate the inauguration of this newly constructed Central Library of the prestigious Tribhuvan University as well as 25 schools, 32 health projects and a cultural heritage sector project, which were undertaken as part of a collaborative effort to support the people of Nepal in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 2015.
Jaishankar said India was also saddened to learn of the casualties and devastation caused by the earthquake that struck the western parts of Nepal in November last year. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed solidarity, the people and leadership of Nepal and had committed to extend all possible assistance,” he said.
“I also communicated yesterday to Prime Minister Prachanda (Pushapa Kamal) about our decision to extend the financial package of Nepalese rupees 1,000 crore that is USD 75 million for the reconstruction of infrastructure in these affected districts,” he said.
“We shall continue to stand by the people of Nepal and contribute to the efforts of the government of Nepal on this,” the EAM added.
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Jajarkot District in Nepal on November 3, 2023, killing over 150 people and injuring nearly 400. The earthquake was the deadliest to strike the country since 2015.
