The death toll in the massive flash floods in Nepal today rose to 359 as authorities in Nepal race against time to find thousands of missing people, including 285 Indian tourists, in one of the country’s worst disasters in recent years. The flash floods yesterday wreaked havoc across three districts in Nepal. Nepal Police said that 93 more bodies were recovered today.
According to Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle, the bodies recovered so far include 108 in Chitwan, 62 in Nawalparasi East, 27 in Dhading, 20 in Gorkha, 17 in Rasuwa, 15 in Nawalparasi West, 12 in Nuwakot, and nine in Tanahun.
Authorities in Tibet and Nepal have reported over 1,300 people missing as of today, out of these, many were foreigners. Both authorities reported that people from more than 30 countries are missing, mainly from India, the United States, Malaysia, Ukraine, Australia, Britain, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Germany and Russia.
Nepal Police spokesperson Kafle said, over 800 stranded people, including those injured, have been rescued from the affected areas, so far. The flash floods were caused after an avalanche blocked the flow of the Lhende tributary of the Bhotekoshi and first hit Timure, near Nepal’s border with China at Rasuwagadhi.
The External Affairs Ministry has said that 84 Indian nationals have been rescued so far in Nepal. These include 63 workers of the Trishuli-1 project as well as 21 people from Tamil Nadu. The Ministry said that contact with 290 Indians have not been established.
.Meanwhile, India has stepped up efforts to trace and rescue Indian nationals stranded in Nepal due to flash flood tragedy. Addressing media in New Delhi today, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that contact has not been established with 288 Indian nationals who were present in Nepal when the tragedy occurred. It include 73 Indians who were working on the Trishuli-1 power project. He said, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is in touch with the project authorities to collect information, as communication links in the affected area have been disrupted. Mr Jaiswal said that the Indian authorities are making all possible efforts, in coordination with the Nepalese authorities, to establish contact with the stranded Indians and ensure their safety.
84 Indian Nationals So Far Rescued In Nepal: MEA
Mr Jaiswal said that India has sent more than 47 tonnes of emergency relief supplies aimed at supporting Nepal’s ongoing rescue and relief operations. He said that India is also mobilising Bailey bridges to assist in rescue and relief efforts. Mr Jaiswal said that government has set up a control room in the Ministry of External Affairs, which will function round the clock. He said, Indian embassies, both in Kathmandu and Beijing, have also set up 24 X 7 helplines.
Mr Jaishwal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday spoken to his Nepalese counterpart and conveyed deepest condolences over the loss of lives. He assured that India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and offered all possible humanitarian assistance.
On the Indian national stranded in Chinese side, Mr Jaiswal that Indian Embassy in Beijing is making all efforts for their safe evacuation. He said, there are approximately 200 Indian nationals, who have sought assistance for evacuation. Of the stranded Indians, 95 are in Darchen and are currently proceeding to Hilsa to cross over into Nepal. Besides, four are in Geelong City, 13 in Zuthulpuk, and they are en route to the town of Saga, while 60 to 70 others are also heading towards Saga. He said, Indian mission is in touch with the local authorities, and they are doing their best for their rescue and evacuation.
