In preparation of launching the Earthquake Relief Centralised Kitchen Project that Akshaya Patra is facilitating with Sipradian Sahayata Sanstha(SSS) and the Tata Trust, installation material for the kitchen was packed and transported from Bengaluru, Pune, Valsad and Lucknow to Nepal. (Read previous updates on the kitchen here)

The two trucks from Bengaluru carried heavy kitchen equipment like cauldrons, as well as food products with a long shelf life that are not available in Nepal like spices and tamarind juice. The vehicle from Pune carried a Thermax boiler, while the truck from Valsad carried a small boiler and other required material. The Lucknow truck carried vessels, crates and pallets, and galvanized iron boxes amongst other items. Sipradian Sahayata Sanstha (SSS) assisted Akshaya Patra in acquiring the required customs clearance for the trucks to enter Nepal.

On 18^th June, the final truck bearing a cauldron, boiler and other related accessories arrived at the new kitchen site in Bhaktapur, as the earlier location was found unsuitable. This will hasten the ongoing progress at the kitchen, and allow operations to commence soon.

Accommodating the work in progress, the kitchen is expected to start delivering food from 21^st June. Once operations begin, the kitchen will provide the wholesome meals to eleven locations in and around Bhaktapur, which are Bhelukhel, Maheswari, Jella, Garun Kund, Kamal Binayak, Thulo Bayasee, Bayasee, Bode, Thali, Gokarneswar and Bhugmati.

The kitchen will prepare two meals a day, where all the locations except Bhugmati will receive morning meals; the numbers of meals for each place vary according to need. The kitchen will cook around 7,192 morning meals and 8,192 evening meals each day, and will be delivered using vehicles provided by Sipradian Sahayata Sanstha.

The new kitchen is being set up at Subakamana Party Palace, Suryabinayak Chowk, Bhaktapur. The initiative, which is funded by the Tata Trust, will be in operation for six months. Following this, the initiative will continue to provide relief in the region until stability is achieved.