Kathmandu – The Indian government has gifted 40 ambulances to various health institutions spread across different districts in Nepal today.
The vehicle handover ceremony was organized simultaneously at four locations: the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the Indian Consulate General in Birgunj, and the Indian Embassies’ Pension Payment Offices in Pokhara and Dharan.
A total of 40 ambulances were donated across all seven provinces of Nepal, covering 33 districts. Out of these, 22 ambulances were handed over in Kathmandu. Additionally, 7 ambulances were provided in Birgunj, 7 in Pokhara, and 4 in Dharan by Indian government representatives.
At the ceremony held in Kathmandu, Shri Prashant Srivastava, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy, handed over the keys to the vehicles. Mayors and chairpersons of municipalities and rural municipalities from various districts in the Bagmati, Karnali, Lumbini, and Sudurpashchim provinces were present at the event, along with representatives from beneficiary institutions, political representatives, and social workers.
In his address, the Deputy Chief of Mission highlighted that the ambulances donated under the Nepal-India development partnership are part of India’s long-standing efforts to strengthen health infrastructure in Nepal. He emphasized that this initiative is a vital aspect of the strong and vibrant development partnership between India and Nepal, which has expanded and deepened over the past seven decades.
During interactions with the beneficiaries, they expressed gratitude for India’s support in various development projects in their districts and across Nepal. They also expressed confidence that the newly gifted ambulances would help improve access to healthcare services in their respective areas. Similar sentiments were echoed by the beneficiaries from Birgunj, Pokhara, and Dharan.
The Indian government has prioritized Nepal’s health sector and has been providing ambulances as gifts to various beneficiary institutions across Nepal for over three decades. Since 1994, the Indian government has donated a total of 1,049 ambulances to Nepal. On other occasions, similar logistical support in the form of vehicles has also been provided to the Nepalese government.
To date, 300 school buses have been gifted to various educational institutions in Nepal. In 2022, the Indian government donated 200 vehicles to Nepal’s electoral bodies and the Election Commission to assist with the conduct of elections. Recently, in May 2025, 15 electric vehicles were presented to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the smooth organization of the first edition of the Sagarmatha Dialogue.
The India-Nepal bilateral relationship is marked by a multifaceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that reflects the deepening ties between the two nations. The expansion of such arrangements continues to reinforce the Indian government’s ongoing commitment to Nepal’s development and further strengthens the bond between the people of both countries.
