The Nepal government has turned down India’s request to deploy its National Disaster Response Force for rescue operations in the flood-hit regions. According to the Nepalese government, it does not need help from other countries.
“The offer for help is natural. Our security agencies are
doing the search and rescue operation. For now we don’t require such help,” Lok Bahadur Chhetri, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said on Friday. “We received similar requests from China and other countries too, but we had to turn down the request,” the foreign ministry official said.
India’s reaction came as thousands of Indians continue to be unaccounted for in the flood that hit the Nepal-China border on Wednesday.
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs set up an Emergency Response Team (ERT) to assist foreign nationals affected by the floods. “The ERT shall serve as the central coordinating body within the ministry to facilitate search, rescue, information verification, and consular assistance in respect of foreign nationals affected by, missing in, or otherwise connected to the flood incident,” said the statement.
The government is also coordinating with security teams on the ground and has established a one—door mechanism where the relatives of the foreign nationals can contact directly.
Meanwhile, reports claim that over 1,500 pilgrims, most of them Indian nationals, have been stranded in Tibet while returning from the Kailash Mansarovar yatra.
The Association of Kailash Tour Operators Nepal (AKTON) stated that more than 1,100 Indian nationals and nearly 400 other foreign nationals are stuck in Tibet following the flood. “From our company alone, more than 700 pilgrims are waiting to return to Nepal from the Mansarovar Yatra,” said Jitendra Basnet, managing director of Trekkers Society, which runs the largest trip for Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation annually.
Evacuation of the pilgrims faces hindrance as the popular yatra route of Kerung along the Nepal-China border has been completely damaged by the flood.
