India has stepped up efforts to locate and assist its citizens affected by the deadly flash floods in Nepal, with at least 225 Indians still reported missing and approximately 200 Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims stranded on the Chinese side of the border.
The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that Indian authorities were working with their counterparts in Nepal and China to establish contact with people who remained unaccounted for after the disaster.
The floods caused widespread destruction across parts of Nepal, particularly in the Rasuwa region near the Nepal-China border. Several settlements and infrastructure facilities were damaged, while communication networks were disrupted in some of the worst-hit areas.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had not received information about any Indian deaths at that stage. He cautioned that the situation remained fluid and that authorities were continuing to gather information from affected areas.
"There is no information" yet on Indian deaths, Jaiswal said while briefing reporters.
The number of Indians initially reported as unaccounted for was higher. Jaiswal said 288 Indian nationals had initially remained unaccountable, although subsequent information indicated that some had been rescued.
Among them were 73 Indians working at the Trishuli One power project. Officials later reported that 63 of those workers had been rescued, reducing the number of people whose whereabouts remained uncertain.
The Indian embassy in Kathmandu has been attempting to establish contact with the management of the power project to determine the status of the remaining workers.
Communication problems have complicated those efforts.
"Our embassy in Kathmandu is in touch with the project head to get more details about these people. The communications line in that area has been disrupted; therefore it has been difficult to get in touch with people on the ground," Jaiswal said.
Bengal group among those missing
A group of 32 Indians from West Bengal is among those whose whereabouts remain unknown.
According to Jaiswal, the group travelled to Nepal with the assistance of Samrat Travels and was in Timure, a settlement in Rasuwa district when the disaster struck.
Timure lies close to the Nepal-China border and was among the areas severely affected by the floods.
The presence of a sizeable group of Indian nationals in the affected region has increased concern among families in India who are awaiting information about their relatives.
Authorities are relying on local officials and rescue agencies to establish contact with people who may have been cut off because of damaged roads, bridges and communication infrastructure.
The Indian government has said that efforts are being made to obtain information through Nepalese authorities as rescue teams gain access to affected locations.
Tamil Nadu pilgrims remain uncontactable
Several groups from Tamil Nadu are also among those whose whereabouts have not yet been confirmed.
Jaiswal said two groups comprising 37 and 49 people had travelled towards Kailash Mansarovar through Samrat Travels and Fly Everest.
Both groups remained uncontactable at the time of the briefing.
The situation has raised particular concern because the affected region is used by pilgrims travelling towards the sacred Kailash Mansarovar site in Tibet.
The route passes through mountainous terrain where flash floods, landslides and damaged infrastructure can quickly isolate travellers.
At the same time, 21 people from Tamil Nadu who had been caught in the affected areas were rescued.
The group is expected to travel to Kathmandu before arrangements are made for their return to India.
The Indian embassy in Kathmandu is coordinating with the rescued pilgrims and Nepalese authorities to facilitate their onward journey.
Kerala and other states also affected
Jaiswal said Indians from several other parts of the country were also among those missing.
A group of 33 people from Kerala was reported to be unaccounted for, while another group of 61 Indians from different states was also being traced.
The government is attempting to verify the status of each group through Nepalese authorities and local contacts.
The challenge has been compounded by the scale of the destruction.
Several areas affected by the floods have suffered damage to roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure and telecommunications networks. This has made it difficult for people in isolated locations to contact their families or government officials.
Indian officials have therefore cautioned that the number of missing people could change as communication is restored and rescue teams reach previously inaccessible locations.
Jaiswal said the government was making every possible effort to reach Indian nationals through Nepalese authorities.
Around 200 pilgrims stranded in China
The Indian government's concerns extend beyond Nepal.
Approximately 200 Indian nationals undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage are currently stranded on the Chinese side of the border and have sought India's assistance for evacuation.
The Indian embassy in Beijing has been coordinating efforts to facilitate their safe movement.
"A number of Indian nationals who have gone on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are currently stranded on the Chinese side," Jaiswal said.
He added that the embassy in Beijing was working to secure their evacuation.
The pilgrims became stranded after the disaster disrupted movement and access routes in the border region.
The Kailash Mansarovar route is located in a remote and high-altitude part of the Tibetan plateau, making evacuation particularly challenging when roads and communication links are damaged.
Indian authorities are therefore working through diplomatic channels and with Chinese officials to determine how the pilgrims can be moved to safer locations and eventually brought back to India.
Foreign nationals also among the missing
The disaster has affected people from several countries, including foreign nationals and people of Indian origin.
Jaiswal said some foreigners, including persons of Indian origin, were also believed to be missing.
He also indicated that potentially some Indians travelling as part of an Isha Foundation group could be among those affected.
Authorities are continuing to verify these reports.
The Indian government has urged families seeking information about relatives in Nepal to remain in contact with the emergency facilities established by the diplomatic missions.
India sends relief material to Nepal
Alongside efforts to locate its citizens, India has launched a broader humanitarian response to support Nepal's rescue and relief operations.
Two Indian Air Force aircraft have been dispatched to Nepal carrying emergency supplies.
The first aircraft departed late on Wednesday night carrying approximately 10 tonnes of relief material.
The consignment included essential supply kits, tents and solar lamps intended for people affected by the disaster and rescue personnel operating in areas where infrastructure and electricity supplies have been disrupted.
A second aircraft departed on Thursday morning carrying a substantially larger consignment.
The flight transported 37.5 tonnes of material, comprising 28.5 tonnes of supply kits, eight tonnes of medicines and one tonne of food.
The relief shipments are intended to supplement Nepal's emergency response as authorities deal with widespread damage and displaced populations.
The deployment also reflects India's wider commitment to supporting Nepal during the disaster.
Government coordinates response
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri have been closely involved in coordinating India's response.
Both have spoken with India's ambassadors in Nepal and China to assess the situation and coordinate assistance for Indian nationals.
The government has also established dedicated emergency communication mechanisms.
The Ministry of External Affairs has opened a 24-hour control room in New Delhi to handle information and assistance requests.
The Indian embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing have separately established emergency facilities to coordinate with affected Indians and their families.
These channels are being used to collect information about missing nationals, coordinate rescue efforts and assist people who have already been evacuated.
Communication remains a major obstacle
One of the biggest challenges facing rescue teams is the disruption of communication and transportation infrastructure.
Several parts of the affected region are mountainous and difficult to access even under normal circumstances.
The floods and associated landslides have damaged roads and bridges, while power and telecommunications systems have also been disrupted.
As a result, authorities cannot immediately verify the whereabouts of everyone who may have been in the disaster zone.
The Indian government has therefore warned that the figures could change as new information becomes available.
Some people initially reported missing may eventually be located through local authorities, while others may still remain unreachable because of the communications blackout.
Families await information
For families in India, uncertainty over the fate of relatives has become one of the most distressing consequences of the disaster.
The group of 32 from Bengal, the Tamil Nadu pilgrims and people from Kerala and other states are among those whose families are waiting for confirmation.
The government has said it is prioritising the identification and rescue of Indian nationals while continuing to work with Nepalese agencies.
The evacuation of the 21 rescued Tamil Nadu residents provides some reassurance, but the large number of people still unaccounted for means the rescue operation remains urgent.
India promises continued assistance
Jaiswal said India would continue to stand with Nepal as the neighbouring country deals with the aftermath of the disaster.
"We stand shoulder to shoulder with Nepal in this difficult time," he said, adding that India would provide all possible assistance.
The relief flights are part of that wider commitment, while the diplomatic missions in Nepal and China remain focused on assisting Indian nationals.
The immediate priority is to establish contact with those still missing, evacuate people stranded in vulnerable areas and provide medical and humanitarian assistance to those affected.
With rescue operations continuing and information emerging gradually from remote areas, officials expect the situation to remain dynamic.
For India, the response is being conducted on two fronts — supporting Nepal's broader relief effort while simultaneously working to bring its own citizens to safety.
As communications are restored and rescue teams reach more affected locations, authorities are expected to provide further updates on the status of the missing Indians and the stranded Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims.
