Tragic flash floods in Nepal have left 320 Indian nationals and around 100 persons of Indian origin unaccounted for, as the country's death toll from the disaster reaches 538. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is intensely focused on locating and contacting all affected individuals. While many Indians have been successfully rescued and repatriated, including those from the Trishuli One hydropower project and returning pilgrims, efforts continue to assist 400 Indian nationals safe on the Chinese side.

Tragic flash floods in Nepal have left 320 Indian nationals and around 100 persons of Indian origin unaccounted for, as the country's death toll from the disaster reaches 538. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is intensely focused on locating and contacting all affected individuals. While many Indians have been successfully rescued and repatriated, including those from the Trishuli One hydropower project and returning pilgrims, efforts continue to assist 400 Indian nationals safe on the Chinese side.

Tragic flash floods in Nepal have left 320 Indian nationals and around 100 persons of Indian origin unaccounted for, as the country's death toll from the disaster reaches 538. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is intensely focused on locating and contacting all affected individuals. While many Indians have been successfully rescued and repatriated, including those from the Trishuli One hydropower project and returning pilgrims, efforts continue to assist 400 Indian nationals safe on the Chinese side.

As search and rescue operations continue following the deadly flash floods in Nepal, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) has said 320 Indian nationals remain missing or uncontactable, and around 100 persons of Indian origin too remain uncontactable.

Death toll from the flash floods in Nepal rose to 538 on Friday as more bodies were recovered.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said the MEA believes that a little more than 315 Indians have still not been contacted and added, “We are still very much focussed on contacting all the Indians who are there.” 

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed this during a press briefing, saying that authorities have so far been unable to establish contact with 320 Indians. "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," Jaiswal said.

In addition, around 100 persons of Indian origin remain uncontactable. According to the MEA, they may have travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra but hold nationalities other than Indian.

Meanwhile, another 400 Indian nationals remain on the Chinese side, but the MEA said they are safe and have been able to communicate with their families. "On the Chinese side, we have 400 Indian nationals. They are safe. They have been in touch with their family," Jaiswal said.

The Indian embassy has been in contact with several of them, while family members have also reached out through helpline numbers operated by the embassy in Beijing. The embassy is coordinating with Chinese authorities to work out arrangements for their evacuation.

The update comes even as groups of Indian nationals have been rescued or moved to safer areas.

"First good news, 21 Indian nationals who had arrived yesterday in Kathmandu from the area that was affected by this flood have today landed in Delhi," Jaiswal said.

Another 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli One hydropower project were also rescued on Thursday. The MEA has also learnt that 96 Indian nationals who had been stranded on the Chinese side have safely crossed into Nepal by land. Efforts are now underway to evacuate them.

Jaishankar said rescue efforts are being carried out by Nepal authorities and Nepal forces, and even a group of 21 people who had reached India were rescued by the Nepalese Army. “From our side, whatever support we can give to the Govt of Nepal, we are doing,” he added.

"I just received a group of Indians who had gone on pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar. They had been rescued after the floods. So, they were brought back to Kathmandu. They were rescued by the Nepali Army. Then our embassy arranged for them to come back. So, I just came to meet them, share our great relief that they are safe and sound, and learn from them about their experience,” the minister said.

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