Operation Maitri

Operation Maitri
Part of 2015 Hindu Kush earthquake
Operational scope	Humanitarian relief
Planned by	Indian Armed Forces, National Disaster Response Force and Ministry of Home Affairs
Objective	Undertaking relief and rescue operations in Nepal, Evacuation of Indian and foreign citizens from Nepal.
Date	25 April 2015
Executed by	Indian Armed Forces, National Disaster Response Force
Outcome	Rescue and relief operations ongoing, over 43K Indians were evacuated, over 150 foreign tourist were evacuated and were provided transit visa to as many as 785 foreigners [1]

Operation Maitri (English: Operation Amity) was a rescue and relief operation in Nepal by the government of India and Indian armed forces in the aftermath of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. India's response was started within 15 minutes of the quake.^[2] It started on 26 April 2015 and also involved Nepali ex-servicemen from India's Gurkha Regiments for interface for guidance, relief and rescue.^[3]

Background

The April 2015 Nepal earthquake (or the Himalayan earthquake)^[4][5] occurred at 11:56 NST on 25 April with a moment magnitude (M_w) of 7.8 and a maximum Mercalli Intensity of IX (Violent). Its epicenter was approximately 34 km (21 mi) east-southeast of Lamjung, Nepal, and its hypocenter was at a depth of approximately 15 km (9.3 mi).^[6] It is the most powerful disaster to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake. The quake killed nearly 8,900 people in Nepal.

Mount Everest avalanche

The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, killing at least 17. The death toll surpassed that of the 2014 Mount Everest avalanche, making it the most lethal day on the mountain.^[7]

An Indian army mountaineering team recovered the bodies of 19 mountaineers from Everest base camp and rescued at least 61 stranded climbers from Mount Everest. Indian Air Force helicopters reached Mount Everest on the morning of April 26 for rescue operations.

Aircraft used

The Indian Army sent a major-general to Nepal to oversee the rescue and relief efforts. The Indian Air Force mobilised its

• Ilyushin Il-76
• C-130J Hercules (At least two deployed)^[8]
• C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft (At least four deployed)^[8]
• Advanced Light Helicopters (At least two deployed)^[8]
• Mi-17 helicopters for Operation Maitri.

Up to eight Mi-17 helicopters are being used for missions such as air-dropping relief materials.^[9][10]

Response

As Nepal's immediate neighbour, India was the first-responder to the crisis, by providing relief "within six to seven hours of the earthquake,"^[11][12] Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed immediate dispatch of relief and rescue teams, including medical team, to Nepal. The Indian Foreign Secretary, S. Jaishankar announced that six more National Disaster Response Force teams would be sent to Nepal in the next 48 hours. He also announced that the aircraft sent to Nepal would not just rescue Indians, but citizens of other countries as well.^[13]

Air India reduced fares on flights bound for Kathmandu from Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi, and announced that it would also carry relief material on its flights.^[14]

Timelines

• 25 April 2015: By the afternoon, ten teams from India's National Disaster Response Force, totaling 450 personnel and including several search and rescue dogs, had already arrived in Nepal; ten additional Indian Air Force planes soon departed to join them with further aid.^[15] In the immediate aftermath of the quake, India sent 43 tons of relief material, including tents and food.^[16]

• 26 April 2015: Operation Maitri started. The Indian Air Force evacuated over 500 citizens from Nepal late Saturday through Sunday morning, and hundreds more on Sunday.^[17][18]
  Ten flights were planned for Sunday. These would airlift army forward hospitals, teams of doctors, nurses, and paramedics, engineering task forces, water, food, National Disaster Response Force teams, medical personnel and equipment, blankets and tents.^[19]
  By Sunday's end, India dispatched a further 10 tons of blankets, 50 tons of water, 22 tons of food items and 2 tons of medicines to Kathmandu. Nearly 1,000 National Disaster Response Force personnel were also pressed into service, and a "big evacuation" of Indian citizens was underway through the road route. The government deployed 35 buses to evacuate stranded Indians in Nepal via two routes - Sonauli and Raxaul - along the Indo-Nepal border. India started issuing goodwill visas to foreigners stranded in Nepal and mobilizing buses and ambulances to bring them to India by road.^[20] Indian Railways provided 100,000 (one lakh) bottles of drinking water to be delivered by the Air Force, with arrangements being made to supply 100,000 bottles every day.^[21]
• 27 April 2015: By Monday morning, the Indian Air Force had evacuated 1935 Indian citizens from Nepal using 12 aircraft sorties.^[22] Indian Army sources said six of 18 medical teams tasked to help with the relief efforts in Nepal had been deployed. The Indian Army was in the process of sending 10 engineer task forces with machinery to clear roads and debris. The troops have taken with them a further 10,000 blankets and 1,000 tents are on standby. The Indian army was also bringing oxygen cylinders for distribution to medical teams.^[23] Spain sought India's help in evacuating its nationals from Nepal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised help.^[24]
• 28 April 2015: With the weather improving, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army fanned out to remote areas while continuing to transport essential items from various bases to Kathmandu and evacuating distressed persons to India. A 41-member medical team, along with medical supplies, was sent to Nepal from Rajasthan. The Sashastra Seema Bal dispatched over three dozen vehicles, including ambulances and water tankers to Nepal from its border camps. The Indian government dispatched a further 220 tons of food packets and dry rations, 50 tons of water, 2 tons of medicines, 40 tents and 1,400 blankets to Nepal.^[25]

See also

• Operation Sankat Mochan
• India–Nepal relations

References

1. http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Over-43K-Indians-Evacuated-from-Quake-hit-Nepal-So-Far/2015/04/30/article2790403.ece1
2. "Nepal quake: India launches 'Operation Maitri', airlifts many". http://www.hindustantimes.com/. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
3. "Indian Army launches operation Maitri for Relief Efforts in Nepal". news.biharprabha.com. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
4. Cindy Tran; Liam Quinn (25 April 2015). "Desperate families of DOZENS of Australians unaccounted in the deadly Himalayan earthquake disaster take to social media with pleas for help finding their loved ones". Daily Mail. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
5. Chidanand Rajghatta (26 April 2015). "s this the 'Big Himalayan Quake' we feared?". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
6. "M7.8 – 29 km ESE of Lamjung, Nepal". United States Geological Survey. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
7. "First survivors of Mount Everest avalanche reach Kathmandu". Fox News. The Associated Press. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
8. "Operation Maitri: India steps up relief operations in quake-hit Nepal". The Indian Express. Press Trust of India. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
9. "Nepal earthquake: India's aid to Nepal named 'Operation Maitri'". The Times of India. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
10. Rezaul H Laskar (26 April 2015). "Nepal quake: India launches 'Operation Maitri', airlifts many". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
11. Bhardwaj, Mayank, Dutta, Ratnajyoti (28 April 2015). "China? India? We’re grateful for their help: Nepal’s ambassador to India". Reuters. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
12. "It took Modi minutes to help neighbouring Nepal after earthquake". Business Day Live. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
13. "Live: Kathmandu airport reopens for rescue ops, Nepal quake death toll rises to 2263". firstpost.com.
14. "Earthquake in Nepal: Air India slashes fare to Kathmandu". Indian Express (Kolkata). 27 April 2015. Retrieved Apr 26, 2015.
15. "India sends 10 NDRF Teams for Relief and Resue Operation in Nepal". news.biharprabha.com. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
16. "Nepal Earthquake: Major Aftershock Hits Kathmandu as Toll Climbs". NBC News.
17. "Indian Army Aid to Nepal Named 'Operation Maitri'". NDTV.
18. "LIVE: Death toll crosses 2200 in Nepal earthquake, heavy rains may trigger landslides". The Indian Express.
19. "Nepal earthquake death toll climbs to 2,150 as India launches aid mission 'Operation Maitri'". International BUsiness Times.
20. "Operation Maitri: India launches massive relief and rescue efforts in Nepal". firstpost.com.
21. "Nepal quake: Indian Railway provides one lakh 'rail neer' bottles as relief". Daily News and Analysis (New Delhi). 26 April 2015. Retrieved Apr 26, 2015.
22. "#NepalEarthquake As of Now: IAF has evacuated 1935 passengers from Kathmandu utilising 12 aircraft sorties.". Twitter.com.
23. "Operation Maitri in full swing". The Telegraph.
24. "LIVE: US offers $10 mn for Nepal earthquake relief; India to help evacuate Spanish nationals". Zee News.
25. "Operation Maitri in Full Swing to Pull Nepal Out of Rubble". The New Indian Express.