NEW DELHI, Sep 5: As many as 275 Indian nationals remain missing following the devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, while 166 Indians have been rescued, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian government remains in close contact with Nepalese authorities and is coordinating efforts to trace those still unaccounted for.
He said 1,907 Indian nationals have also safely entered Nepal from China. According to information received from Chinese authorities, no Indian travellers are currently stranded in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
“We deeply appreciate the efforts of the Nepalese authorities in this regard,” Jaiswal said during his regular media briefing.
The floods have caused extensive destruction across Nepal, with the death toll reaching at least 1,295, according to Nepalese authorities. More than 12,000 people have been rescued, while around 5,000 others are still reported missing as search operations continue.
India has stepped up its humanitarian response since the floods struck on August 26. Jaiswal said approximately 95 tonnes of relief material had been delivered to Nepal through seven aircraft.
New consignments are expected to be sent based on Nepal’s requirements. These include forensic kits, Bailey bridges and other essential equipment requested by the Nepalese government.
Alongside relief supplies, India has deployed 54 personnel to assist local authorities. The team includes 30 tunnel rescue specialists, 19 forensic experts and five medical personnel. Indian rescue and forensic teams are currently working with Nepalese agencies on the ground.
The initial assistance reached Nepal within hours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversation with Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah on August 26. Modi had assured his Nepalese counterpart that India would extend every possible humanitarian support to deal with the disaster.
The floods have severely affected Nepal’s infrastructure. Local authorities reported damage to 35 motorable bridges, 45 suspension bridges and around 40 kilometres of black-topped roads, particularly in central parts of the country.
Jaiswal said India’s immediate response reflected its commitment to supporting Nepal during the emergency and added that New Delhi would remain involved in reconstruction and recovery efforts.
Responding to a question about the role of climate change in the disaster, Jaiswal said India has consistently regarded climate change as a shared global challenge.
He stressed that international climate action should follow the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
“Developed countries who historically are responsible for the emissions and have contributed overwhelmingly to this crisis, must take lead in reducing emissions and supporting developing countries by way of finance and technology transfer to meet this challenge,” he said.