Mamdani Voices Solidarity With Indians Affected by Nepal Floods in Tibetan Message

NEW YORK, Aug 28: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has expressed solidarity with Indians affected by the devastating floods in the Nepal-Tibet border region, sharing a message in Tibetan and acknowledging the distress among New Yorkers with family and connections in the affected areas.

Mamdani said many residents of New York City had received painful news from their home countries following the disaster, which has claimed hundreds of lives and left several people displaced or searching for missing relatives.

“Many New York City residents heard distressing bad news this morning from their home countries,” Mamdani said in a post on X written in Tibetan. The platform provided an English translation of his message.

Referring to flooding in the border areas between India and Tibet, he said the loss of life had caused immense suffering, while those who remained unaccounted for were still struggling to find safety.

Addressing people from India and Tibet, Mamdani said New York City understood the grief they were experiencing and assured them that they did not have to face the difficult period alone.

The mayor’s message came around four hours after he issued a separate statement in Nepali expressing support for the city’s Nepalese and Tibetan communities affected by the catastrophe.

In that message, Mamdani said thousands of New Yorkers had woken up to heartbreaking reports from their homeland. He noted that the flooding in the Nepal-Tibet border region had resulted in hundreds of deaths, while searches for missing people continued.

He also acknowledged the emotional connection immigrants maintain with places they consider home despite living thousands of miles away.

“To our Nepali and Tibetan neighbours,” Mamdani said, New York City stood with them during the period of grief and hardship.

The messages highlighted the presence of sizeable Nepali and Tibetan communities in New York City. According to city data, around 15,000 residents of Nepali origin live in the city, while UPG North America estimates the Tibetan population at approximately 13,000.

Meanwhile, the situation has also affected Indian nationals in Nepal. The Ministry of External Affairs said 290 Indian citizens were currently “not contactable” following the floods.

The ministry said 63 workers associated with the Trishuli-I hydropower project had been rescued from the affected region.

In another development, 21 Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu who had travelled to Nepal as part of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra were also rescued.

Amid the continuing flood situation, the MEA has established a 24 hour control room to assist Indian nationals and coordinate relief and rescue efforts.

The latest developments come as authorities continue efforts to locate missing people, evacuate those stranded and provide assistance to communities affected by the flooding across the region.