Nepal Floods: 288 Indians missing, says MEA

New Delhi, August 27

At least 288 Indian nationals are currently out of contact following severe floods in Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday, as rescue and relief operations continued in the flood-hit Himalayan country.

The Indians include people working on a hydropower project as well as tourist groups from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the ministry said.

More than 200 Indians stranded in Tibet have also sought assistance, according to the MEA.

The ministry said India had stepped up humanitarian assistance to Nepal. A second consignment containing 37.5 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) material, medicines and food packets was handed over to Mahabir Pun, Nepal’s Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, to support relief and rescue operations.

According to media reports,  more than 165 people had died and about 826 were missing after severe flash floods swept through parts of central Nepal. The missing included about 300 Indians.

The floods have caused widespread destruction, damaging villages, towns, bridges and hydroelectric projects.

Authorities in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have been placed on high alert as floodwaters are expected to move downstream towards the Gandak river.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Wednesday and expressed condolences over the loss of lives. Modi said India stood in solidarity with the people of Nepal and was ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance.

Indian teams are coordinating with Nepalese authorities on rescue and relief operations, Modi said.

Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to the chief ministers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh yesterday to review preparations along the India-Nepal border.

Shah described the devastation in Nepal as “deeply tragic” and said local administrations, rescue teams and the National Disaster Response Force had been placed on high alert in potentially affected areas.

The MEA has established a 24-hour control room to assist Indians affected by the floods in Nepal.

MEA Control Room:
Telephone: +91 11 2308 8718 / +91 11 2308 8719
WhatsApp: +91 9968291988
Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu can be contacted on WhatsApp and by phone at:

+977 985 131 6807
+977 970 910 7500
+977 981 032 6117

Indian nationals can also contact Nepali authorities through local emergency helplines, including Tourist Police, the Nepal Army, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and district-level police and administrative officials in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan.