Nepal is battling the aftermath of catastrophic floods and landslides triggered by a glacier collapse, with hundreds killed and more than 1,300 people reported missing across Nepal and Tibet. Rescue teams are racing against difficult terrain, damaged roads and bridges, and the risk of further disasters as relief operations continue in the Himalayan region.
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India has intensified efforts to trace its nationals affected by the disaster, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar reviewing the situation with senior MEA officials and Indian ambassadors in Kathmandu and Beijing. The MEA is coordinating with Nepalese authorities, state governments, tour operators and project agencies to establish the status and well-being of Indians in the affected areas.
290 Indians remain unaccountable: MEA
Two hundred and ninty Indian nationals remain unaccounted for following the devastating flash floods in Nepal, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the missing Indians included people working on hydropower projects as well as members of tourist groups.
Jaiswal also said 21 Indians from Tamil Nadu had been rescued following the floods, while around 200 Indians in Tibet had sought assistance from India.
“India is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Nepal in this difficult time and we are ready to provide all assistance as per requirements of that country,” he added.
