Flood survivors in Nepal have expressed gratitude for India’s assistance as the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Bhawan provides shelter, food and medical support to people affected by the devastating floods.

Flood survivors in Nepal have thanked India for its assistance as relief efforts continue following devastating floods that have displaced communities and disrupted essential services.

The Nepal-Bharat Maitri Bhawan has emerged as one of the facilities providing support to affected residents, offering shelter and medical care to people who have been forced to leave their homes.

Survivors staying at the facility described India’s assistance as a major source of relief during the crisis, with some expressing their gratitude in emotional terms.

Shelter and medical support for survivors

The Maitri Bhawan is providing a safe place for people affected by the floods while medical teams attend to those requiring healthcare.

For survivors dealing with the loss of homes, belongings and access to basic services, temporary shelter and medical assistance have become critical parts of the relief response.

The assistance comes as authorities and relief agencies continue efforts to reach communities affected by flooding and provide essential supplies and healthcare.

Survivors express gratitude

People taking shelter at the facility spoke about the support they had received from India during the difficult period.

Their accounts highlighted the importance of humanitarian assistance at a time when many affected families are struggling to return to normal life.

The expressions of gratitude also underscore the people-to-people dimension of India-Nepal ties, with humanitarian assistance becoming particularly significant during a major natural disaster.

Relief operations continue

Nepal continues to deal with the consequences of the floods, including displacement and damage to infrastructure and essential services.

As rescue and relief operations continue, shelters such as the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Bhawan are helping provide immediate assistance to survivors while medical personnel address health concerns.

India has been supporting Nepal's wider disaster response, with assistance aimed at helping affected communities cope with the aftermath of the floods.

The ongoing response highlights the importance of coordinated humanitarian support, particularly for communities that remain unable to return home or access regular healthcare and essential services.

Nepal Health Minister Nisha Mehta said India has sent an expert team for DNA testing and is helping set up a laboratory as Nepal works to identify and manage bodies recovered after devastating floods.

 India is assisting Nepal with the identification and management of bodies recovered after the devastating floods, including through DNA testing and support for setting up a dedicated laboratory, Nepal Health Minister Nisha Mehta said on Wednesday.

Mehta said India had sent an expert team to assist with DNA testing and was also helping Nepal establish a laboratory for DNA-related work.

“The main issue was regarding the dead body management,” Mehta said, adding that the Indian team was assisting Nepal with the process.

India steps up assistance

Mehta described the support as part of the close relationship between the two neighbouring countries, saying India has stood with Nepal during both difficult and favourable times.

She said India's assistance was particularly important as authorities faced the challenge of identifying recovered bodies and ensuring they could be handed over to families.

According to Nepal Police figures cited in the report, the flood death toll had risen to 1,127 by Wednesday. Bodies had been recovered from several districts, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawalparasi East and Nawalparasi West, as well as nine recovered in India. 

However, identification remained a major challenge. Nepal Police said only 95 recovered bodies had been handed over to families after identification at the time of the report. 

Rescued people housed at holding centres

Mehta also said rescued people were being accommodated at holding centres, where authorities were taking care of their health needs.

She added that neighbouring countries were assisting Nepal with rescue operations and providing different forms of aid. International organisations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF were also working on the ground alongside Nepalese authorities and other responders.

The minister said the combined response was focused on making the best possible efforts amid the scale of the disaster.

India's assistance with DNA testing and laboratory infrastructure comes as Nepal continues the difficult task of identifying victims and reconnecting families with those who died in the floods.