The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday gave a major update on Indian nationals affected by the devastating flash floods in Nepal, saying 320
Indians remain uncontactable while around 100 persons of Indian origin are also missing. In a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 21 Indian nationals, all from Tamil Nadu, who had arrived in Kathmandu from the flood-affected area on Thursday, landed safely in Delhi on Friday. Jaiswal also said 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli One hydropower project had been rescued on Thursday. In another major development, 96 Indian nationals stranded on the Chinese side have safely crossed into Nepal by land. Efforts are now underway to evacuate them from Nepal. However, the MEA said it is still unable to establish contact with 320 Indian nationals who are either missing or uncontactable in the flood-hit areas. In addition, around 100 persons of Indian origin remain uncontactable. The MEA said some of them may have been travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and hold nationalities other than Indian. Nepal Floods: LIVE updates here. "As far as the number of people whom we are not able to contact or who are missing, the figure at this point in time is 320... There are also around 100 persons of Indian origin who remain uncontactable. These are people of Indian origin who may have gone for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, but they hold other nationalities," Jaiswal said.
400 Indian nationals safe in China
Around 400 Indian nationals currently on the Chinese side of the flood-affected region are safe and in contact with their families. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian Embassy in Beijing has been in touch with several of them, while many of their family members have also reached out through the helpline numbers operated by the embassy.
The embassy is also coordinating with local authorities in China to work out arrangements for their evacuation.
Jaiswal said 96 Indian nationals stranded on the Chinese side have already safely crossed into Nepal by land, with efforts underway to evacuate them further.
The Nepal flash floods, triggered after an ice-rock landslide blocked a river near the country's border with China, have affected several districts and left hundreds dead and hundreds missing, according to Nepal's disaster management authorities.
The death toll rose to 538 on Friday with more bodies recovered as search and rescue operations continue with caution following the threat of fresh flooding due to an increase in the water level of a lake formed by avalanches on the border with Tibet.
