New Delhi, 29 August (H.S.): Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has written separate letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the devastating situation caused by floods in Nepal. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Kharge urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens and people of Indian origin stranded in Nepal, while also providing humanitarian and relief assistance to the affected people of Nepal. In his separate letter to the Home Minister, he called for coordination with the Nepalese government and the deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams wherever required to assist in rescue, evacuation and relief operations.

In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Kharge expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by the floods in Nepal. He said media reports indicated that more than 500 people had lost their lives in the disaster, while around 1,000 people remained missing. He noted that thousands of people had been deprived of basic necessities such as food, medicines and shelter as a result of the disaster.

Kharge appealed to the Prime Minister to coordinate with the Nepalese government and ensure that adequate humanitarian and relief assistance was provided to those affected. He said the people of Nepal should receive all possible assistance from India during this difficult period.

He also expressed concern over Indian citizens and people of Indian origin stranded in Nepal. In his letter, Kharge said that the floods had left Indian citizens and people of Indian origin stranded in different parts of the country. He urged the government to issue necessary directions to the concerned authorities and intensify rescue and safe evacuation efforts.

Kharge said all necessary arrangements should be made to ensure the safe and speedy return to India of stranded Indian citizens and people of Indian origin. Referring to information provided by the Ministry of External Affairs, he said around 320 Indian citizens could not currently be contacted in Nepal.

In his separate letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, Kharge highlighted the large-scale impact of the floods in Nepal, including damage to homes and critical infrastructure and the displacement of people. He said India and Nepal share deep and enduring ties between their people and that India should stand firmly with the people of Nepal during the crisis.

Kharge urged the Home Minister to consider providing Nepal with immediate and comprehensive humanitarian and disaster-relief assistance. He specifically called for NDRF teams to be deployed wherever necessary in coordination with the Nepalese government.

He said the NDRF possesses considerable expertise and experience in responding to natural disasters and conducting relief and rescue operations. Its teams, he added, could provide significant assistance in Nepal by helping with rescue operations, evacuating people to safety and carrying out relief work.

Kharge urged the Home Minister to ensure that, in view of the situation in Nepal, the Government of India responds with the seriousness and urgency warranted by the humanitarian crisis. He called for immediate measures to ensure that essential assistance from India reaches the affected population.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar