Bhubaneswar, 27 August (H.S.): Odisha Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Thursday confirmed that six Odia footballers who had travelled to Nepal to participate in football matches are safe amid the devastating floods and landslides in the neighbouring country.

The Minister said the state’s nodal officer has already established contact with the players and confirmed their safety. A senior official has also been assigned the responsibility of ensuring their safe return to Odisha.

According to the Minister, the Odisha government is in continuous coordination with the Government of Nepal, while the state Home Department has been kept informed about the situation. Efforts are underway to facilitate the players’ return at the earliest.

The confirmation comes amid a severe natural disaster in Nepal, where catastrophic floods and landslides have reportedly claimed more than 172 lives and left over 1,000 people missing. An Odia couple and 135 other Indian nationals are also among those affected, while several tourists remain stranded in disaster-hit areas.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government has established a control room in New Delhi to assist people from the state who may be stranded or facing difficulties in Nepal following the flash floods.

The government has issued the following helpline numbers for assistance: +91-7428135044, +91-8527580245 and 011-23012807.

Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Directorate of Odisha Paribar, has been appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate assistance and facilitate the safe return of Odias affected by the disaster.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda