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[/right]Ever since international rescue teams started coming into Nepal, news about a competition between the Chinese and Indian rescuers has regularly filled the media. However, contrary to reports, these teams are actually working together. The Chinese team flew to Sindhupalchok on an Indian Army helicopter to rescue 17 trekkers from the district. Ten of them were foreign tourists.

The Indian Army said : “The only helicopters available belong to the Nepal Army and the Indian Army. We are working in coordination with other rescue teams as well”. The Chinese Embassy confirmed the statement.

Spokesperson for Nepal Army, Jagadish Chandra Pokharel said: “All rescue teams are working in conjunction with the Nepal Army. They all work together, we don’t split them up.”

The Multinational Military Coordination Centre has been working together with the foreign rescue teams. All the rescue teams are not working at one particular place at a time but are working together in groups in various areas.

“We have been sending troops based on orders. It is less relevant what team goes where, our main focus is search and rescue,” said Abhay Kumar, spokesperson for the Indian Embassy.

The Government stated that the search and rescue work is almost over and it is now time to focus on relief.

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Tags: International rescue teams, competition, Indian, Chinese, search, rescue, relief