Over 100 British soldiers deployed under the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers Association returned to the United Kingdom after completing their two-month long rescue and reconstruction operations in the earthquake devastated villages of Nepal.

The Gurkha soldiers led by Major Loots had come to Nepal in early May to distribute funds collected through Gurkha Welfare Trust and assist in reconstruction work following the Nepal government’s reluctance in granting permission to land the British Army chopper, Chinook, at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

“Although the Nepal government did not allow the British Army, we came here through the GWT and completed the assigned responsibilities as we wanted to provide assistance to the needy people,” said Sergent Lal Rana, adding, “The troops have now left the country after completing the mission.”

Two squads under the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers—69 Gurkha field squadron and 70 Gurkha filed squadron—had distributed relief aid packages provided by the GWT and constructed temporary shelters in Barpak of Gorkha, Ramechhap, Dhading and Dolakha districts. During their stay, Gorkha soldiers distributed zinc sheets for 66 households, 300 pieces of zinc sheets for a school, constructed three public toilets in Barpak and temporary shelters for locals, specially for those women whose husbands were out of villages and the elderly people.

In Ramechhap, they distributed 56 aid packages including zinc sheets, foodstuff and other logistics in Bhujim VDC, and constructed a shelter, distributed zinc sheets for 72 households and handed out zinc sheets worth Rs 90,000 in Betali and Rasnalu VDCs.

The 106-member group, divided into two groups, built a school building for Shree Bhawani Higher Secondary School in Manub of Gorkha, the village bordering Dhading, a temporary building for Manub Health Post and a drinking water project for locals.

Published on: 20 July 2015 | The Kathmandu Post