SSB sends over 3 dozen vehicles from border posts to Nepal

New Delhi: Border guarding force SSB on Monday said it has dispatched over three dozen vehicles including ambulances and water tankers from its border camps for relief operations in earthquake-hit areas of Nepal.

The border sentinels have also established 15 regional centres along the 1,751-km open border in order to help stranded Indians coming back to the country.

The force, in a statement said, a total of 7,959 people have crossed the border till afternoon hours today.

"A total of 38 vehicles including an ambulance and three water tankers, buses and other heavy and light vehicles have been sent across the border up to Kathmandu by the force. The convoy is led by two officers of the force," a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) spokesperson said here.

At the border camps, the spokesperson said, SSB medical teams treated 200 sick people and evacuated eight seriously injured.

Relief centres -- armed with medicines, water, food and communication facilities -- have been opened at Gauri Phanta, Banbasa, Sonauli, Rupediha, Barhni, Raxaul, Jogbani, Bhittamore, Koilabas, Sonbarsa, Dighal bank, Galgali, Panitanki, Pashupati Fatak and Utrey from Uttarakhand to Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim for providing first-aid and facilitating movement of people to the nearest bus or railway station.

The force said it has also stationed ten medical teams at the two important land border crossings at Raxaul and Sonauli.

SSB Director General BD Sharma had yesterday said they had deployed a 2,900-strong contingent equipped with medical aid and food to help Indians returning from earthquake-hit Nepal and also the affected locals.

The force has also publicised its toll-free number "1903" to get in touch with it in case of assistance and help.