Nepal floods: Nearly 300 Indians missing; MEA sets up special control room

New Delhi witnessed the establishment of a 24/7 special control room by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, as Nepal grappled with the aftermath of devastating flash floods that claimed 359 lives and left 288 people missing. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced the creation of this round-the-clock control room, which will operate continuously to assist Indian nationals stranded in the crisis.

The MEA quickly set up 24x7 helplines at both its embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing. Additionally, the department released a detailed statement providing contact information for various emergency services in Nepal, including the Nepali authorities and the Indian embassy in Kathmandu. The MEA also shared an update on X (formerly Twitter), informing the public that 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli-I project in Nepal had been successfully rescued.

Massive flash floods originating in Tibet struck central Nepal on Wednesday, wreaking havoc across several towns and villages. The catastrophic event caused extensive damage to critical bridges and disrupted a dozen hydropower projects, affecting multiple districts in the Himalayan nation. India expressed solidarity with Nepal, stating its unwavering commitment to supporting the country in its efforts to cope with the crisis.