New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday urged the government to trace Indians who have gone missing following devastating floods in Nepal and provide assistance to their families.
At least 105 Indians and 37 NRIs are among the nearly 400 persons missing after the devastating floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa district bordering Tibet swept through villages and damaged critical infrastructure on Wednesday.
In a post on X, Kharge expressed shock over the loss of lives and the devastation caused by the flash floods in Nepal and urged the Centre to extend all possible humanitarian assistance to the neighbouring country.
“Deeply shocked and saddened by the devastating flash floods in Nepal. My heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the people of Nepal in this hour of grief.
“We are deeply concerned about reports of over 100 Indians who remain missing. I urge the Government of India to take immediate steps to trace them, ensure their safety and provide all possible assistance to their families,” the Congress chief said in his post.
India must also extend every possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal in this difficult hour, he added.
“The Indian National Congress stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal and prays for the safety of all those affected,” he said.
Sources in the government said border force SSB has alerted all its formations along the 1,751-km international border with Nepal and has deployed 18 teams to undertake rescue and relief operations along the border areas.
Most of the Indians who are missing after the floods were headed for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in Tibet.
The sudden, massive flood swept through two central Nepal districts bordering Tibet killing four people, causing extensive devastation at settlements along the river and damaging at least a dozen hydropower projects early Wednesday.
The flood surged through the Bhote Koshi River at around 9 am (local time) coming from the Tibet side affecting Rasuwa and Dhading districts bordering Tibet and Nuwakot district, southwest of Kathmandu, officials said.
According to a statement by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 384 travellers, 291 foreigners and 93 Nepalese nationals, have gone missing due to the Rasuwa floods.
These travellers include 105 Indian tourists, 37 NRIs and remaining tourists from the USA, Malaysia, the UK, South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands.
Bihar, UP on high alert after Nepal deluge
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were on high alert on Wednesday after several districts in neighbouring Nepal were devastated by flash floods in the Gandak river system, with authorities initiating emergency measures including evacuating people from vulnerable areas.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and assured all possible assistance from the Centre to deal with any potential crisis due to the rise in river water level, officials said.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is being mobilised to deal with any emergency, they said.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has also alerted all its formations along the 1,751-km India-Nepal international border and 18 teams have been deployed to launch relief and rescue operations.
In Bihar, special vigilance has been ordered in West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali, besides other vulnerable districts such as Sitamarhi and Sheohar.
Authorities have opened all 36 gates of a barrage on the Gandak river to help control the situation, state officials said.