Aerial visuals show the scale of destruction caused by flash floods in Nepal, where rescue teams are searching for hundreds of missing people (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: The devastating flash floods in Nepal have left hundreds of Indian tourists, pilgrims and workers stranded, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirming that 290 Indian citizens remain uncontactable.
According to the latest MEA update, issued on Thursday evening, 84 Indians have been rescued, including 63 workers from the Trishuli-I hydropower project and 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Indian authorities and state governments are coordinating with Nepalese officials and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to trace missing citizens and ensure their safe return.
Tamil Nadu has reported the highest number of missing people among the affected states. State minister A Rajmohan said that 86 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry remain untraceable after the flash floods.
According to officials, a total of 106 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had travelled to Nepal under different groups for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has reviewed the situation and directed officials to intensify relief efforts.
In West Bengal, a group of 32 people, including 30 tourists and two staff members, remain missing after travelling to Nepal for the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra.
Travel agency operator Dibyajyoti Basu said families are anxious as several travellers have not been reachable since the floods hit the region.
Among those missing are Sharmistha Bhowmik Roy, daughter-in-law of former Union minister Mukul Roy, and former SAIL employee Subhash Chandra Ghosh.
At least 17 people from Gujarat are reported missing or uncontactable, including an NRI couple from Anand. Their family members have appealed for information as efforts continue to trace them.
In Andhra Pradesh, at least seven tourists have been reported missing or stranded near the Nepal-China border. State authorities are monitoring the situation through emergency coordination systems.
Karnataka has reported 13 stranded residents, including people from Bengaluru, Mysuru and Dharwad districts. Most are believed to be stuck in Nepal’s Rasuwa district and parts of Tibet.
A major relief came for Maharashtra as 106 tourists from Nagpur, who were stranded in Nepal, safely left Kathmandu for Bihar’s Danapur.
The evacuation was arranged after intervention by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with transportation support arranged through coordination with Nepal authorities.
Odisha has reported three missing people, including an Australia-based couple from Khordha district who were visiting Nepal and a 20-year-old woman from Mayurbhanj.
In Chhattisgarh, a woman from Raipur has gone missing after the floods. The state government is coordinating with central agencies and Nepal authorities for her search.
Around 14 people from Uttar Pradesh have contacted the state helpline to seek information about their relatives missing or stranded in Nepal.
The Indian government continues to monitor the situation as rescue operations remain underway amid difficult weather conditions and the threat of further flooding.
