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What is the story about?
Around 320 Indian nationals are missing in flood-hit Nepal, while nearly 100 people of Indian origin remain uncontactable, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday, August 28, as India stepped up rescue and humanitarian assistance.
The government is still awaiting greater clarity on how many Indian nationals are among those killed in the disaster, the MEA said.
Meanwhile, 21 Indians who reached Kathmandu from flood-affected areas on Thursday have returned to India. The group, all from Tamil Nadu, arrived in Delhi aboard an IndiGo flight.
India prepares rescue and medical teams
India is preparing to send a specialised tunnel rescue team to Nepal following a request from the Nepalese government. A reconnaissance team is being flown in first to assess the situation and prepare for the deployment.
A medical team is also being sent to assist with relief operations.
India has offered Bailey Bridges—portable, prefabricated bridges that can be quickly assembled to restore road links—along with a technical team to help reconnect areas where infrastructure has been destroyed. One Bailey Bridge is already in Nepal, according to the MEA.
The government has also offered to deploy National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and equipment for search-and-rescue operations and is awaiting a response from Nepal.
The MEA said India stands ready to provide any additional assistance requested by the Nepalese government.
Nearly 60 tonnes of relief supplies planned
India has also been flying humanitarian supplies into Nepal.
The first relief aircraft departed on August 26 carrying 10 tonnes of material, followed by another flight on August 27 with 37.5 tonnes.
A third flight carrying another 12 to 13 tonnes was being considered for Friday evening. The supplies are expected to include portable generators, dignity kits, food and water-purification tablets, among other items requested by Nepal.
If the third flight goes ahead, India will have sent roughly 60 tonnes of relief material to the country.
Indians rescued from Trishuli hydropower project
The disaster has also affected the Trishuli hydropower project, where several Indian nationals were working.
Sixty-three Indians were rescued from the Trishuli-1 hydropower project on Thursday, according to the MEA.
The ministry said it was too early to assess the broader implications of damage to Nepal's hydropower infrastructure. It also wasn't immediately clear whether electricity generated by the affected project was being supplied to India.
Separately, around 400 Indian nationals currently on the Chinese side of the border are safe, the MEA said.
Another 96 Indians who had been stranded on the Chinese side have crossed into Nepal by land, and efforts are underway to evacuate them.
India continues to coordinate with authorities in Nepal and China to bring Indians stranded in affected areas to safety.
Asked whether New Delhi would extend financial assistance to Nepal, the MEA said the immediate focus was on humanitarian aid and technical support.
MEA on India-China boundary talks
Separately, the MEA said India and China would work to implement understandings reached during the latest round of Special Representatives' talks in Beijing.
The negotiated consensus document underlined both countries' commitment to advance negotiations on a framework for settling the boundary question, the ministry said.
The two sides have agreed to pursue discussions through an expert group aimed at achieving an early and substantive outcome on boundary delimitation.
On proposed additional meetings and hotlines between the two countries, the MEA said the immediate focus would be on implementing the understandings reached during the talks.
Asked about China's proposed dam projects and transboundary water issues, the ministry said water-related matters between India and China are discussed through established bilateral channels.
The MEA declined to comment on remarks by Nepal's science minister blaming the Chinese side for hydropower-related destruction, saying the issue would need to be examined by experts.
Bangladesh and BRICS
On reports of Hindus being targeted in Bangladesh, the MEA said maintaining law and order was the responsibility of the Bangladesh government.
The ministry also said there was no information yet on India's participation in the upcoming BRICS summit.
The government is still awaiting greater clarity on how many Indian nationals are among those killed in the disaster, the MEA said.
Meanwhile, 21 Indians who reached Kathmandu from flood-affected areas on Thursday have returned to India. The group, all from Tamil Nadu, arrived in Delhi aboard an IndiGo flight.
India prepares rescue and medical teams
India is preparing to send a specialised tunnel rescue team to Nepal following a request from the Nepalese government. A reconnaissance team is being flown in first to assess the situation and prepare for the deployment.
A medical team is also being sent to assist with relief operations.
India has offered Bailey Bridges—portable, prefabricated bridges that can be quickly assembled to restore road links—along with a technical team to help reconnect areas where infrastructure has been destroyed. One Bailey Bridge is already in Nepal, according to the MEA.
The government has also offered to deploy National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and equipment for search-and-rescue operations and is awaiting a response from Nepal.
The MEA said India stands ready to provide any additional assistance requested by the Nepalese government.
Nearly 60 tonnes of relief supplies planned
India has also been flying humanitarian supplies into Nepal.
The first relief aircraft departed on August 26 carrying 10 tonnes of material, followed by another flight on August 27 with 37.5 tonnes.
A third flight carrying another 12 to 13 tonnes was being considered for Friday evening. The supplies are expected to include portable generators, dignity kits, food and water-purification tablets, among other items requested by Nepal.
If the third flight goes ahead, India will have sent roughly 60 tonnes of relief material to the country.
Indians rescued from Trishuli hydropower project
The disaster has also affected the Trishuli hydropower project, where several Indian nationals were working.
Sixty-three Indians were rescued from the Trishuli-1 hydropower project on Thursday, according to the MEA.
The ministry said it was too early to assess the broader implications of damage to Nepal's hydropower infrastructure. It also wasn't immediately clear whether electricity generated by the affected project was being supplied to India.
Separately, around 400 Indian nationals currently on the Chinese side of the border are safe, the MEA said.
Another 96 Indians who had been stranded on the Chinese side have crossed into Nepal by land, and efforts are underway to evacuate them.
India continues to coordinate with authorities in Nepal and China to bring Indians stranded in affected areas to safety.
Asked whether New Delhi would extend financial assistance to Nepal, the MEA said the immediate focus was on humanitarian aid and technical support.
MEA on India-China boundary talks
Separately, the MEA said India and China would work to implement understandings reached during the latest round of Special Representatives' talks in Beijing.
The negotiated consensus document underlined both countries' commitment to advance negotiations on a framework for settling the boundary question, the ministry said.
The two sides have agreed to pursue discussions through an expert group aimed at achieving an early and substantive outcome on boundary delimitation.
On proposed additional meetings and hotlines between the two countries, the MEA said the immediate focus would be on implementing the understandings reached during the talks.
Asked about China's proposed dam projects and transboundary water issues, the ministry said water-related matters between India and China are discussed through established bilateral channels.
The MEA declined to comment on remarks by Nepal's science minister blaming the Chinese side for hydropower-related destruction, saying the issue would need to be examined by experts.
Bangladesh and BRICS
On reports of Hindus being targeted in Bangladesh, the MEA said maintaining law and order was the responsibility of the Bangladesh government.
The ministry also said there was no information yet on India's participation in the upcoming BRICS summit.
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