Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday held a telephone conversation with his Nepali Counterpart Balendra Shah and conveyed his heartfelt condolences in the wake of widespread devastation caused by the recent flash floods and landslides in Nepal.
The PM expressed complete solidarity with the Nepali leadership and people on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan. He also offered whatever possible assistance was required at this difficult time.
The death toll from the flash floods that tore through the mountainous kingdom on last Thursday is confirmed at 539, but more than 1000 people, including several hundred tourists, are still missing.
The catastrophe was triggered by a glacial collapse that caused seismic tremors and caused rivers and streams to overflow while also causing landslides. Images of the devastation are now beginning to emerge and rescuers have been attempting to find survivors for days in exhaustive efforts over difficult and mountainous terrain.
Authorities say they are prepping for the possibility of even more flooding after a mountain lake formed by the flooding began to overflow its banks.
The PM said that Pakistan was dispatching emergency relief assistance to Nepal in order to help with relief efforts.
The Nepali head of government thanked PM Shehbaz Sharif for the telephone call and expression of solidarity and support. He also expressed gratitude for the generous offer of assistance made by Pakistan.
