India gifts 20 ambulances, four buses to Nepal on Republic Day

Kathmandu: India on Sunday gifted 20 ambulances and four buses to Nepal on the occasion of its 65th Republic Day. Indian ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae presented 17 ambulances and four buses to various social and educational organisations during a function to mark the Republic Day in the Indian Embassy premises.

The remaining three ambulances were gifted by the Consulate-General of India, Birgunj to various organisations based in southern Nepal. Rae presented books to 50 educational organisations, libraries and training institutions. He hoisted the national flag and read out the address of the President of India, which stressed among other things "India`s support for peace, stability and development in its neighbourhood". Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala, party`s general secretary Prakash Man Singh, CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, general secretary of the party Ishwor Pokharel, senior leader of UCPN-Maoist and former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai were present on the ocassion.