Bengaluru: As part of its endeavour to restore heritage sites in Nepal, India has started renovation work on Seto Macchindranath temple in Nepal’s capital city. 

The bhumi pujan in this regard was done by India’s ambassador to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra along with Kathmandu Mayor Sundar Shakya and National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sushil Gyawali, Hindustan Times adds. 

India has promised a sum of Rs 580 crore towards the restoration of heritage sites which were damaged due to the earthquake that hit the land-locked country in 2015. 

Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s Deputy Mayor Hariprabha Khadgi said, “Nepal and India are identical in many ways, from marriage to language, culture and mode of living. For having these things in common, they (India) have been extending cooperation in various fields.”

“In continuation to doing so, they have extended help in restoration work the temple of Seto Macchindranath, I would heartedly welcome them on behalf of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Art, Culture, and Heritages are our identity and these are things that make us identifiable,” as quoted by Swarajya. 

The Nepal earthquake of 2015: 

An earthquake of intensity 7.5 on the Richter scale hit Nepal on April 25. As many as 9000 people lost their lives and nearly 22000 were injured in the catastrophe. 

The earthquake also triggered an avalanche in the Himalayas in which several people were trapped. This is the worst earthquake to hit the country since the one in 1934. 

The quake also had its impact on natural heritage sites. Several temples, old buildings, stupas were flattened. 

The geology, rampant urbanisation and architectural changes. 

India suffered 78 casualties as per reports. 

India’s helping hand only corroborates that the country believes in Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, a principle that envisages that that the entire world in one family.