The devastating flash floods in Nepal have triggered an urgent search for hundreds of Indian nationals, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying 288 Indians remain uncontactable, even as 21 Indian nationals were rescued from the flood-hit Timure area.
The 21 rescued Indians are from Tamil Nadu and were travelling as part of the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. The Nepal Army rescued them during a major helicopter operation in Rasuwa district.
Among the 288 Indians whose whereabouts remain unknown are 73 people working at the Trishuli-1 hydropower project, according to the MEA. Around 200 Indian nationals are also stranded on the Chinese side of the border, adding to the challenge for Indian authorities coordinating rescue efforts.
The Indian government has stepped up its response, with the MEA maintaining contact with Nepalese authorities and setting up a special control room to assist affected Indians and their families. India has also sent relief material to Nepal.
Death toll rises to 270
The scale of the disaster in Nepal has continued to grow as rescue teams reach more affected areas.
According to the latest figures from Nepal’s disaster authorities, 270 people have died and 826 remain out of contact. Among those still untraced are 644 tourists, including 517 foreign nationals and 127 Nepalis.
The floods tore through Rasuwa and other districts before surging downstream through the Trishuli and Narayani river systems, damaging settlements, roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Rescue teams are continuing to search areas cut off by the destruction.
The wider Nepal-Tibet disaster has left more than 1,300 people missing, according to international reports, with hundreds of foreign nationals among those unaccounted for.
The disaster has particularly affected pilgrims and tourists travelling towards Mount Kailash, with several Indian groups caught in the affected region during the peak pilgrimage season.
India activates emergency helplines
The Ministry of External Affairs has established a 24×7 control room for Indians affected by the Nepal floods.
Official MEA release and assistance details: https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases?dtl/41702
The numbers have been issued for assistance and information regarding Indian nationals affected by the floods.
India’s immediate priority remains locating those still unaccounted for and bringing them to safety. With roads and communication networks damaged and rescue operations being conducted in difficult mountainous terrain, the search is expected to remain challenging.
For the families of the 288 Indians still uncontactable, however, the wait for information continues.
