Life stirs in killer quake rubble

KATHMANDU: Nepali authorities clarified on Friday they did not give permission to a Chinese plane to land at Kathmandu airport on Wednesday because of congestion on the runway . A section of the Nepali media had tried to project it as `Nepal's India tilt'.
''Our airport is too small to handle so many aircraft that are flying into the country ,'' the authorities said, adding, ''The US is also waiting for a similar permission.''
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Indian officials here described as ''absurd'' reports of Indian soldiers showing special interest to work in Nepal's northern frontier.''Every country is working hard for a humanitarian cause,'' an official who is part of the Indian relief effort in the Himalayan nation said.
Like India and other countries, China has also been assisting Nepal in relief and rescue work.
After assessing the postearthquake situation with Nepali leaders, India's national security adviser Ajit Doval said, ''Nepal is doing a great job. India stands by it.'' He was accompanied by foreign secretary S Jaishankar and other MEA officials.
An agency report quoted Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav on Friday expressing gratitude to the Chinese gov ernment and people for supporting his country in the wake of a powerful earthquake hitting the Himalayan country . ''I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to the people of China... for the support that we have got here in this difficult time of natural calamities,'' Xinhua quoted President Yadav as saying.
The Nepali president praised the expertise of the Chinese quake-relief teams and said he hoped that his government would further coordinate with the Chinese government to overcome the calamity .
A 62-member Chinese search and rescue team reached the quake-hit areas in Nepal shortly after the nation was hit by a devastating 7.9-magnitude quake on Saturday .
Beijing too has swept aside any suggestions it is being overshadowed by rival India in the quake zone, although it says it is planning to: ''intensify our efforts in disaster relief ''.
''The assistance shows all Asian countries are part of the community ...we will work together with Nepal to help them rebuild their homeland,'' a foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday . Nepal's foreign minister Mahendra Bahadur Pande sought to strike a balance saying his government is grateful to its very good friend India, but was quick to mention China. ''They are trying their best to rescue our people. We have divided areas between India and China,'' he said.