The Nepal government has mobilised all available resources, including the Army, Police, and armed forces, to conduct urgent rescue operations following severe flash floods along the Tibet-Nepal border. Deepesh Lekhak, Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of Nepal in Kolkata, provided updates on the situation on Thursday.

Ongoing Rescue Efforts

In an interview with ANI, Lekhak highlighted that search and rescue operations have taken precedence, with helicopter evacuations being undertaken in the most affected areas. “The flash floods have caused significant damage along the Tibet-Nepal border. All relevant agencies, including the army, police, armed forces, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), and local administrative bodies, are prioritising rescue operations,” he stated.

So far, 239 individuals have been successfully evacuated via helicopters, and the rescue operations are ongoing, according to Lekhak. He also noted that the Nepal Tourism Board is actively tracking updates on tourists reported missing as a result of the floods.

Impact on Tourists and Locals

Lekhak mentioned that information is being gathered from Chinese immigration points along the Tibet border, given that many individuals, including tourists from West Bengal and Kolkata, were present in the affected region. The Nepal Tourism Board has indicated that initial records from trekking and travel agencies reveal that 644 travellers, which includes 127 Nepali nationals, have been reported missing from the areas impacted by the disaster. Efforts are underway to verify these numbers in coordination with travel companies, local authorities, and security representatives.

In addition to Indian nationals, individuals from other countries have also been reported missing. Currently, 53 citizens from Ukraine, 35 from Australia, and 25 from Canada are among those unaccounted for.

According to sources from the Nepal Embassy, as of the latest reports, 175 bodies have been recovered, while a substantial number of locals and tourists remain missing. The total number of individuals reported missing stands at 476, encompassing citizens from 28 different nations. These figures are still being corroborated as search and rescue operations proceed.

Indian Government’s Response

On Thursday, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar convened a meeting with officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian Ambassadors in Kathmandu and Beijing, to discuss the situation in Nepal following the floods. Jaishankar took to social media platform X to announce that efforts are underway to ascertain the status and well-being of Indian citizens in the affected areas.

The MEA is coordinating with various ministries, state governments, tour operators, and project authorities to ensure an effective response. Jaishankar confirmed that collaboration with Nepali authorities is ongoing, particularly concerning relief operations.

Monitoring Flood Impact in India

As rescue operations progress, Inspector General Narendra Singh Bundela of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) stated that there have been no adverse impacts reported in the Indian border areas following the flash floods in Nepal. He commented that agencies are actively monitoring water discharge levels in sensitive districts, including Kushinagar and West Champaran.

In terms of domestic preparedness, IG Bundela indicated that state governments and the Central Water Commission (CWC) are maintaining vigilant oversight, and field-level preparations have been completed. The floods have caused extensive damage to numerous bridges and roads, leading to intensified rescue and relief operations by Nepal’s security forces. Essential services, including medical assistance, temporary shelters, food, water, and medicine, are being provided to those in need.

Additionally, the Indian Embassy in Nepal has established helpline numbers for assistance: +977 985 131 6807, +977 970 910 7500, and +977 981 032 6117, which are also accessible via WhatsApp.

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