KATHMANDU: India on Monday handed over Rs 1.60 billion to Nepal as a second installment of the amount it pledged for reconstruction.

At a program organized at Ministry of Finance Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri handed over the check to Minister for Finance Yuvaraj Khatiwada.

Finance Secretary Rajan Khanal said that India provided the amount for the reconstruction of private homes damaged by the 2015 earthquake.

Speaking at the function, Indian Ambassador Puri said that India was happy to aid Nepal in reconstruction, adding that the Indian government always supports Nepal in development.

Earlier, the southern neighbor had provided Rs 2.10 billion to Nepal as assistance for reconstruction.