Nepal Floods Highlights: 288 Indians missing, 21 rescued: Govt

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have rescued 21 Indian nationals who are from Tamil Nadu... We have received information that a number of Indian nationals who had gone on the Mansarovar Yatra are stranded on the Chinese side... There are approximately 200 Indian nationals there who have sought our assistance for evacuation. Of them, 95 are in Garchan and are currently proceeding to Bilsa to cross over into Nepal. Four are in Geelong city, 13 Zutulpo, and they are en route to the town of Saga... We are in a dynamic situation.”

A special control room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs for Nepal Floods.

The helpline contacts are:

Telephone Numbers: +91 11 2308 8718

+91 11 2308 8719

For WhatsApp Calls/Messages: +91 9968291988

Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in

Emergency Contact Numbers of Embassy of India in Kathmandu are: (can also be contacted on whatsapp)

+977 985 131 6807

+977 970 910 7500

+977 981 032 6117

Nepali authorities can also be contacted at the following helpline numbers:

Tourist Police: +977 9851289445

Nepal Army: +977 9851072914 (email: dgmi-foreign@nepalarmy.mil.np)

NDRRMA: +977 9851320269 / +977 9849281097 / @NDRRMA_Nepal

Rasuwa Police: +977 9851254960

Assistant Chief District Officer, Rasuwa: +977 9851164422

Nuwakot Police: +977 9851282380

Assistant Chief District Officer, Nuwakot: +977 9851248777

Dhading Police: +977 9851229860

Chief District Officer, Dhading: +977 9851247777

Chitwan Police: +977 9855013999

Assistant Chief District Officer, Chitwan: +977 9855088891

During a briefing on Nepal, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that 288 Indian nationals remain missing following the flash floods in the country.

Randhir Jaiswal of Ministry of External Affairs, India posted on X, “21 Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu, who travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, have been rescued in Nepal.”

Nepal Flash Floods Live Updates: 270 bodies have been found by authorities in Nepal after flash floods, Nepal's police said in a post on X on Thursday.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said five people from Bengaluru are after the Nepal flash floods ravaged the region, PTI reported.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a post on X wrote, “Held a review meeting with Foreign Secretary, Team MEA and our Ambassadors in Kathmandu & Beijing on the Nepal flood disaster. Urgent efforts are underway to ascertain the status and well-being of all Indians in the flood-affected areas. MEA is coordinating with various Ministries, State Governments, tour operators and project authorities in this regard. We are working closely with the Nepali side, both on this aspect and on the relief efforts.”

Nepal's Tourism Board on Thursday said 517 foreigners remained out of contact, more than 24 hours after a deadly flood hit the region sharing border with Tibet , AFP reported.

Among the missing, 178 people from India, 65 from the United States, 53 from Ukraine, 51 from Malaysia, 35 from Australia, 33 from Britain, 25 from Canada, 9 from Singapore, 8 from Germany and 8 from Russia.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Inspector General Narendra Singh Bundela told provided an update about deployment of 20 teams, 9 in Bihar and 11 in Uttar Pradesh. These personnels will launch evacuation in case these areas experience floods and waterlogging. relief and rescue operations, PTI reported.

A total of four teams of NDRF rescuers are on standby in Ghaziabad and await request from Kathmandu. The rescue teams will be airlifted from the Hindon IAF station to the desired location, the Inspector General said.

Besides the above-mentioned countries, citizens of Belarus, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Kazhakstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Phillipines, Portugal, Spain and Sweden are also missing, Nepal's tourism board said in its statement.

After devastating floods hit Nepal and the Tibet Region, Karnataka Government activated its State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) for the distressed with 1070 or 080-22253707 helpline number. Read more here

The mudslide was triggered by an avalanche that blocked the flow of the Lhende tributary of the Bhotekoshi river. The forceful impact of the glacial collapse triggered the flash floods that first hit Timure, near Nepal's border with China at Rasuwagadhi. Mainly three districts in Nepal suffered the catastrophic impact of the tragedy, including Rasuwa, Dhading and Nuwakot.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal provided an update on missing tally of Indians in flash flood. He said that nearly 300 Indian tourists are among thousands who were swept through parts of the Nepal-Tibet border, PTI reported.

According to Nepal police and tourism officials, tourists from more than two dozen countries are missing, including 177 from India, 63 from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from Britain and 25 from Canada, Reuters reported

Nearly 1,500 people are missing, and at least 165 were confirmed dead in the tragedy, Reuters reported. Among the reported figures of 826 missing people in Nepal, 500 are foreigners.

US Geological Survey (USGS) on Thursday rejected claims of earthquake-induced flash flood and said that the seismic event was a result of glacial collapse and debris flow.

“A magnitude 5.2 seismic event occurred near the border between Nepal and China on Aug 26 at 8:37 AM local time,” the USGS said.

Suggesting that the catastrophic gush of mud downstream was a triggered by the collapse of a fragile debris wall holding back meltwater, the USGS said, “This event was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake. Additional analysis of nearby seismic stations, long period seismic waves, and satellite imagery led to the determination that the seismic event was instead a glacial collapse and debris flow, and that no earthquake had occurred.”

The Indian Embassy has set up some emergency helpline numbers which are also available on WhatsApp, including 977 985 131 6807, 977 970 910 7500, and 977 981 032 6117.

The US government on Wednesday vowed to provide $500,000 humanitarian aid, the State Department said.

Expressing its condolences over the deadly floods, the agency said, “The United States extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the devastating flash floods in the Rasuwa district of Nepal,” AFP reported.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a message of support on X said, "We express our solidarity and are united in prayer for the Nepali people following the devastating floods."

China’s Xinhua News Agency on Thursday updated the missing tally in Tibet to 558 after mudslides caused by a glacial collapse have left three people dead. Meanwhile, Nepal police reported that at least 162 were killed after devastating flash floods came crashing in a border area of Nepal and China, AP reported.