320 Indian nationals remain uncontactable after deadly floods in Nepal: MEA India

New Delhi: As rescue and relief operations continue in Nepal after deadly flash floods and landslides, 320 Indian nationals remain “uncontactable,” while around 100 people of Indian origin are also yet to be reached, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday. Indian authorities are coordinating with Nepal and China to locate those affected and arrange their evacuation.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said “that the number of uncontactable Indians remained fluid as authorities continued to reconcile several lists of missing people.

“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. But please do keep in mind that we are in a dynamic situation, so figures keep going up and down. Also, we have to reconcile several lists that we are dealing with,” Jaiswal said in a weekly press briefing.

The flooding has caused widespread destruction across Nepal, with hundreds of people killed and thousands affected. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said “579 people had died and 1,924 remained missing nationwide. Of those listed as missing, 517 were foreign nationals. Five deaths were also reported on the Chinese side of the border, where the flooding originated.

Three groups of Indians rescued

The Indian and Nepalese authorities continue to coordinate rescue, relief and evacuation efforts as teams work to establish contact with those still missing and assist people stranded in affected areas.Indian authorities have so far confirmed the rescue of three groups of Indian nationals.

Earlier today MEA has released the names of 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli-I project in Nepal who have been rescued amid the devastating flash floods that have wreaked havoc across the Himalayan nation.

In a post on X on MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the names while saying, “Update on Indian nationals rescued in Nepal. Please see the names of 63 Indian nationals working at Trishuli-I project in Nepal who have been rescued,” Jaiswal said

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar received the second group of 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who were rescued from floods in Nepal at Indira Gandhi International Airport. A third group of 96 Indian nationals who had been stranded on the Chinese side of the border crossed into Nepal by land. Indian authorities are now working to arrange their evacuation.

Jaiswal said the MEA would release details of the 96 people after their identities and other particulars had been verified. The MEA has set up a special control room in view of the prevailing flood situation in Nepal. The ministry’s control group in New Delhi is working with control rooms at the Indian embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing to track affected Indians and coordinate assistance.

Jaiswal said around 100 people of Indian origin who remain uncontactable were participants in the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage but were citizens of other countries. “There are also around 100 persons of Indian origin who remain uncontactable. They are people of Indian origin who went for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra but hold different nationalities,” he said.

Survivor describes floodwaters approaching

Mohit Mehta among the rescued people from Visakhapatnam in India’s Andhra Pradesh state who described the danger he faced during the flooding.

“Very serious situation there. Around 250 Indians are missing. The flood was just 100 metres from me. God helped me. So, I am happy,” he told NNP over a call interview after arriving in India. He said Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh and his local lawmaker had remained in contact with him during the crisis and thanked the state government for its assistance.

Another rescued pilgrim from the group of 21 described the flood as “a tsunami falling from the mountains,” recalling how torrents of water, mud and debris swept through the area. The pilgrims were forced to abandon their journey and climb a steep mountainside to escape the advancing floodwaters.

Jaishankar met the rescued pilgrims at Delhi airport and said he had been moved by their accounts. “I welcomed a group comprising 21 tourists from Tamil Nadu who were rescued from the floods that occurred in Nepal. I was deeply moved upon hearing their experiences firsthand,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.

India sends emergency supplies

India has increased its humanitarian assistance to Nepal, sending emergency supplies by air to Kathmandu. Jaishankar said a second Indian aircraft carrying 37.5 tonnes of disaster relief material, medicines and food packets left for Nepal on Thursday. It followed an earlier shipment of 10 tonnes, bringing India’s total emergency assistance to 47.5 tonnes.

A third flight is also being considered, with Nepal requesting items including portable generators, dignity kits, food, water purification tablets and medicines.

“We give highest priority to this issue,” Jaishankar said, adding that he had reviewed rescue and relief operations with Indian officials in Kathmandu and Beijing.

Foreign nationals among the missing

The disaster has also affected foreign nationals traveling in Nepal. Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established an emergency control room to coordinate searches, verify information and provide consular assistance to foreign citizens affected by the floods.

The NDRRMA said the missing include personnel from the Nepal Police, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Customs and Immigration offices. Rasuwa district has reported a large number of missing people, while several other districts have also recorded deaths and destruction. Chitwan has reported the highest number of recovered bodies, according to the disaster authority.

Australia has also reported citizens among those missing. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said at least 38 Australians remained unaccounted for as of Saturday. Rescue and relief operations remain underway across the affected areas as authorities face the continuing threat of flooding and difficult conditions on the ground. For India, the immediate priority remains locating the 320 nationals still uncontactable and helping those rescued return home safely.