Kathmandu— China’s Xizang Autonomous Region handed over emergency relief supplies including Bailey bridge panels, reinforced suspension rods, support frames, bridge decking and I-beams to Nepal at Rizi Port in Shigatse on Friday, Sept. 4. The equipment is sufficient to assemble two Bailey bridges intended to help restore transport links and facilitate rescue and relief operations in areas affected by mudslides and devastating floods that disrupted transport infrastructure in Nepal. A handover ceremony was held in Lhasa on Friday between the Foreign Affairs Office of Xizang and the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa, where Nepal’s Consul General in Lhasa Lakshmi Prasad Nirola signed the handover certificate.

Assistance Delivered At Border

The Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu said the supplies were handed over at Rizi Port in Shigatse. The consignment includes Bailey bridge panels, reinforced suspension rods, support frames, bridge decking and I-beams. The embassy said the equipment is sufficient to assemble two Bailey bridges which are supposed to support rescue and recovery efforts in areas affected by mudslides.

Handover Ceremony In Lhasa

A handover ceremony was held in Lhasa on Friday between the Foreign Affairs Office of Xizang and the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa. Nepal’s Consul General in Lhasa, Lakshmi Prasad Nirola, signed the handover certificate. At the port, a bilingual banner in Chinese and Nepali read: “Shared Mountains, Shared Rivers — United in Weal and Woe: Xizang Rushes to Nepal’s Aid”, a testament to the solidarity and mutual support between the two peoples in times of disaster, said the Embassy's statement.

Context Of Disaster Response

The assistance followed requests for support after the devastating floods disrupted transport infrastructure in Nepal. The Nepali side thanked the Xizang Region for its response and said the assistance reflected cooperation between the two sides during disasters, read the statement. The bridges are intended to help restore transport links and facilitate rescue and relief operations in affected areas, it said.

The equipment is expected to support rescue and recovery efforts in flood and mudslide-affected areas as Nepal works to restore transport links.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.