New Delhi: At least 320 Indian nationals are missing following devastating floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, while around 400 Indians remain stranded on the Chinese side, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was ready to provide all possible assistance to Nepal in its ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Jaiswal said 96 Indian nationals who had been stranded on the Chinese side have safely reached Nepal by road. Meanwhile, 21 Indians who reached Kathmandu from the flood-affected areas of Nepal a day earlier arrived in New Delhi on Friday afternoon. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar received the Tamil Nadu residents at the airport.
According to the latest information shared by Nepalese authorities, the death toll from Wednesday’s devastating flash floods has risen to 538, as rescue teams continue searching affected areas and recovering more bodies.
320 Indians remain unaccounted for
Jaiswal said the number of Indian nationals whom authorities have been unable to contact or who are reported missing currently stands at 320.
He added that around 100 people of Indian origin are also uncontactable. These individuals may have travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, but hold citizenship of other countries.
Around 400 Indian nationals stranded on the Chinese side are reported to be safe and remain in contact with their families. The Indian embassy is also in touch with many of them, while families have contacted Indian officials through helplines operated by the embassy in Beijing.
Jaishankar reviews situation
Against the backdrop of the crisis, Jaishankar held a high-level meeting with senior officials to review the situation in Nepal, with particular focus on tracing missing Indians.
The Indian ambassadors in Kathmandu and Beijing also joined the meeting virtually.
India has also stepped up relief assistance to Nepal. Since Wednesday night, two military transport aircraft have delivered a total of 47.5 tonnes of emergency supplies to Nepal, with further relief material being prepared for dispatch.
