New Delhi: At least 320 Indians and 100 persons of Indian origin remain uncontactable or missing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Friday. India is also preparing to dispatch a tunnel rescue team to Nepal, the MEA highlighted.
“At this moment 320 nationals have been uncontactable. Please note that this is a dynamic situation. Around 100 persons of Indian origin, who may have been travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, remain uncontactable. Around 400 Indian nationals on the Chinese side of the border are safe,” Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a regular press briefing.
He added: “Our embassy is in touch with local authorities in China and are working out with the local people there to try and find out their conditions… 96 Indian nationals who were stranded on the Chinese side have safely crossed the border into Nepal by land. Efforts are underway to have them evacuated.”
The first of the 21 nationals rescued Thursday were received by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the New Delhi international airport, Friday afternoon.
India announced that a third relief flight carrying around 13 tonnes of relief material will fly on Friday evening. Across the three relief flights, India has sent around 60 tonnes of relief material to Nepal since Wednesday evening.
Jaiswal announced Friday that a “tunnel rescue team” is being prepared for deployment to Nepal, following a request from Kathmandu.
“A Reece team is being flown first to assess the equipment required. A medical team is also being prepared to be sent. In addition, we have also offered bailey bridges along with their associated technical teams so that connectivity can be restored quickly in the affected parts of Nepal,” said Jaiswal.
He added: “One bailey bridge is already in Nepal and can be deployed for relief efforts…In so far as missing or stranded Indians are concerned, Government of India is arranging for the return home of those who have been rescued thus far. In addition to this, we have also made a specific offer to Nepal authorities to dispatch NDRF teams.”
The flash flood in Nepal, which occurred Wednesday has left at least 469 people dead so far. Rescue teams have been using heavy machinery to dig through mud and debris in towns devastated by the floods, while several individuals remain missing on the Tibetan side of the border as well.
Rasuwa is the worst-hit district, as floodwaters entered the country from the Tibet border. Roads, bridges and other infrastructure have been impacted.
Work on the Trishuli 1 hydropower project has been impacted by the floods. At least 63 Indians working on the project have been rescued and are in touch with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, said Jaiswal.
India has so far not released a death toll of Indian nationals, as New Delhi is awaiting information from Kathmandu Jaiswal said.
(Edited by Prakhar Agrawal)
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