NEW DELHI — India has intensified efforts to locate and assist its citizens affected by devastating flash floods in Nepal, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) establishing a 24-hour control room as rescue teams continue searching for missing people.
The MEA said the emergency facility in New Delhi will coordinate information and assistance for Indian nationals and their families during the crisis. The move comes as a large number of Indians remain unaccounted for following severe flooding and landslides in Nepal.
The flooding has caused widespread destruction in parts of Nepal, with rivers including the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rising rapidly. The disaster has left hundreds of people dead or missing and disrupted roads, communications and access to several affected areas.
MEA establishes 24-hour emergency response
The government's decision to establish a dedicated control room reflects the scale of the emergency and the difficulties families are facing in establishing contact with relatives in Nepal.
The MEA said the control room will operate around the clock and provide assistance related to the flood situation. Officials are coordinating with Indian missions and authorities on the ground to collect information about affected nationals and support rescue and evacuation operations.
The initial reports indicated that nearly 200 Indians were missing or seeking assistance. As rescue operations progressed, however, the number of Indians reported unaccounted for changed as authorities established contact with some people who had been unreachable.
Indians among those affected
Indian nationals in Nepal include tourists, pilgrims and workers, meaning the affected population is spread across different locations and groups.
Indian workers at hydropower projects have been among those affected by the disaster. Reports said 63 workers associated with the Trishuli-1 project were rescued, while 21 Indians from Tamil Nadu were also brought to safety.
Authorities have continued working to determine the whereabouts of others whose families have been unable to establish contact.
The situation has been particularly complicated in remote mountainous areas, where floods, landslides and damaged roads have made movement and communication difficult.
Pilgrims and tourists seek evacuation
The disaster has also affected Indians travelling through the region for pilgrimage and tourism.
Around 200 Indian nationals in Tibet have sought assistance amid the wider regional disaster, according to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. The requests have added another dimension to India's evacuation and assistance efforts as authorities coordinate with neighbouring governments.
The government is working to establish the location and condition of those seeking help and determine the safest routes for evacuation.
Floods create wider regional threat
The disaster has consequences beyond Nepal.
Indian states downstream of Nepal, particularly Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, have been placed on alert because of the potential for increased water levels in rivers flowing from Nepal into India.
India has also announced humanitarian assistance for Nepal. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India had sent 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief supplies, including essential medicines, to support relief efforts.
The move underscores the close geographic and humanitarian links between the two countries, particularly during major floods and other natural disasters.
Rescue operations continue
Nepalese authorities are continuing search-and-rescue operations in areas hit by flash floods and landslides.
Reports indicate that some previously missing Indian nationals have since been located, offering relief to families who had been waiting for news. However, authorities are still working to establish contact with others.
The disaster has also affected infrastructure, with roads and communication networks damaged in several areas. This has slowed rescue operations and made it harder for people trapped or stranded in remote locations to contact their families.
India prioritizes citizen safety
For New Delhi, locating missing Indians is now one of the most urgent priorities alongside providing humanitarian support to Nepal.
The MEA's control room is expected to serve as a central point for families seeking information and assistance. Officials are continuing to gather information from local authorities and Indian diplomatic representatives as the situation develops.
The rapidly changing figures underline the difficulty of determining the exact number of missing people during a major natural disaster. As communication is restored and rescue teams reach isolated communities, the number of people officially listed as missing is expected to change.
For families across India, however, the immediate priority remains finding their loved ones.
With rescue operations continuing and weather and terrain complicating access to affected areas, Indian authorities are maintaining emergency coordination while working with Nepalese officials to locate missing citizens, evacuate those stranded and provide assistance to those affected by one of the region's most serious recent flood disasters.
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