New Delhi, 27 August (H.S.):

The devastating floods in Nepal have affected a large number of Indians as well. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), five major groups comprising a total of 288 Indian nationals are currently out of contact. The groups include Indians working at the Trishuli 1 Power Project as well as tourists from different states who had travelled to Nepal in groups. Meanwhile, 21 Indian nationals had been successfully evacuated to safety as of 1 p.m. today.

The MEA spokesperson provided the information during a special briefing on the situation involving Indians stranded in Nepal. He said that contact had currently been lost with five major groups of Indian nationals. Among them are 73 Indians working at the Trishuli 1 Power Project. According to the spokesperson, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is in touch with the project head to obtain further details about these individuals. Communication lines in the affected area have been completely disrupted, making it difficult to establish contact with people on the ground.

In addition, two separate groups of 37 and 49 Tamil Nadu residents who had travelled to Kailash Mansarovar through two different travel agents, ‘Samrat’ and ‘Fly Everest Travels’, respectively, are currently out of contact. Also uncontactable are 32 Indians from West Bengal who were travelling with the assistance of ‘Samrat Travels’ in Timure, Rasuwa district, where the disaster occurred; 61 Indians from various states travelling through ‘Richa Tours’; and a group of 33 Indian nationals from Kerala.

The spokesperson said, “We are making every possible effort to reach our people through the Nepalese authorities. We will have further updates on this matter and will try to share the information with you as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, 21 Indian nationals had been successfully evacuated by 1 p.m. today. The group comprises residents of Tamil Nadu. Officials at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, along with the Ambassador, have spoken to members of the group and assured them of all possible assistance. They are travelling to Kathmandu, following which arrangements will be made for their return to India at the earliest.

Providing details of India’s relief efforts, the spokesperson said that two aircraft had transported 47.5 tonnes of relief and rescue supplies to Nepal. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to his Nepalese counterpart on Wednesday. India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and has offered all possible humanitarian assistance to support relief and rescue operations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar