India said on Thursday it has intensified efforts to rescue and assist its nationals affected by the devastating floods in Nepal, with 288 Indians still uncontactable and roughly 200 more stranded across the border in China, seeking evacuation assistance.
Addressing the ministry’s weekly briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the 288 uncontactable nationals include 73 Indians working on the Trishuli One Power Project, adding that the Indian embassy in Kathmandu is coordinating with the project’s head to gather further details.
Jaiswal said several Indians who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are among those stranded on the Chinese side of the border and have appealed to New Delhi for help getting out. He put the number of such stranded pilgrims at around 200.
He identified five major affected groups totalling 288 people. These include two batches of 37 and 49 Tamil Nadu pilgrims who travelled for the Mansarovar Yatra through private tour operators, a group of 32 Indians from West Bengal stranded in Timure in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, a mixed group of 61 nationals from various states, and 33 people from Kerala.
Jaiswal said India has already rescued 21 Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu who were caught up in the disaster.
The floods, triggered by a landslide-driven torrent from Tibet that tore through Nepal’s Rasuwa district earlier this week, have killed hundreds and left hundreds more missing, with authorities also warning of a fresh flood risk from an overflowing barrier lake near the China-Nepal border. Indian officials said embassy teams remain in close contact with local authorities and affected families as rescue and verification efforts continue across the flood-hit region.