New Delhi: India today said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was deployed in Nepal immediately after the April 25 earthquake for rescue operations and their work has been accomplished.
"NDRF was deployed in Nepal for rescue operations and their rescue work has been accomplished," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters here.
The Minister, who handles the disaster management division in the Home Ministry that controls the NDRF, said the Nepalese government has asked the NDRF to demobilise so that reconstruction and rehabilitation work can be started.
"It should not be taken in any other sense," he said. Rijiju said not only India's but forces of 33 countries, engaged in rescue operations in Nepal, have been asked to prepare for return.
Rescue teams from India and 33 other countries were today asked by Nepal to leave as it prepared to launch massive operations to rehabilitate millions of uprooted victims of the devastating temblor on April 25 that has killed at least 7,365 people, including 41 Indians.
The government had pressed a total of 16 NDRF teams, with 45 members in each, to undertake humanitarian aid, relief and rescue operations.
The specially-trained force rescued 11 persons, retrieved 132 bodies and provided medical aid to 1,157 injured and sick victims.
