JAMMU, Aug 29: Senior BJP leader and former Sarpanch Adv. Devraj Sharma today lauded the Narendra Modi-led Union Government for its swift, timely and substantial humanitarian assistance to Nepal following the devastating flash floods that have caused widespread destruction and loss of lives in the Himalayan nation.
Sharma said India’s prompt response to the disaster has once again demonstrated its commitment to the principle of “Neighbourhood First” and reinforced the country’s growing reputation as a first responder during major natural disasters. He noted that India has consistently extended humanitarian assistance to disaster-hit nations, including Türkiye, Syria, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.
He particularly appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s immediate outreach to Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah within hours of the disaster. Modi conveyed his condolences to the people affected by the tragedy and assured Nepal of India’s readiness to provide all possible humanitarian assistance. Indian teams have also been coordinating closely with the Nepalese authorities in rescue and relief operations.
“India has once again shown that its strength is not merely measured by its economic and strategic capabilities, but also by its readiness to stand with humanity in times of crisis. The Modi Government’s immediate response reflects compassion, preparedness and responsible leadership,” Sharma said.
He highlighted that 62 tonnes of emergency relief material have been dispatched to Nepal through three airlifts. The first IAF C-130J aircraft transported 10 tonnes of essential supplies, including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines.
The second C-17 aircraft carried around 37.5 tonnes of assistance, comprising relief material such as tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, dewatering pumps, kitchen sets and generator sets, along with medicines and food items. A third aircraft carrying another 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance also departed for Kathmandu on Friday.
Sharma said the scale and speed of India’s response reflected the country’s enhanced disaster-management capabilities and the Modi Government’s emphasis on ensuring that assistance reaches affected populations without unnecessary delay.
At the same time, he urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to take lessons from the Nepal disaster and further modernize its own disaster-response and rescue mechanism, particularly in view of the Union Territory’s vulnerability to flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides and other natural calamities.
He called for strengthening the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) with modern rescue gadgets, communication equipment, life-saving devices, flood-response systems, drones and other advanced technologies so that rescue teams can respond rapidly during emergencies and minimize loss of life and property.
“Natural disasters cannot always be prevented, but the loss of precious lives can certainly be reduced through preparedness, technology, timely warnings and professionally equipped rescue teams. J&K must continuously upgrade its disaster-response infrastructure and ensure that the SDRF has access to modern equipment and regular specialized training,” Sharma said.
Sharma maintained that India’s humanitarian response to Nepal should also serve as a reminder that disaster preparedness must remain a continuous priority rather than a reaction after tragedy strikes. He called for stronger coordination among the administration, SDRF, police, health authorities, Army, local volunteers and other response agencies to ensure faster evacuation and relief during emergencies.
He said the spirit displayed by India in assisting Nepal represents the country’s commitment to humanity, regional cooperation and collective disaster resilience, adding that the same approach should guide disaster-management planning within Jammu and Kashmir.