More than 600 killed in Nepal flood as search for survivors enters fourth day

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari held discussions with the families of residents from the state who have gone missing in Nepal following severe flash floods. The CM connected with the families via video conference from Bhabani Bhaban, the state police headquarters, and pledged assistance in getting Chinese visas for relatives to travel and search for their loved ones in Tibet.

Adhikari informed the families that, "We will help those who want to go to China. Though it will be subject to getting visas from China, the state administration will provide necessary help for that." He also mentioned that if the Central government permits, a delegation from the state government will be sent to Kathmandu for improved coordination.

Adhikari revealed that at least 37 people from West Bengal are reported missing, with two members of the Poddar family being found. The families requested the CM to provide a list from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ascertain whether their relatives had entered Tibet. Additionally, a UK-based couple, Anal Kar (56) and his wife Sanjukta Kar (50), are also missing in Nepal.

They arrived in Kathmandu from New Delhi on August 18 and were last traced near the Nepal-Tibet border. The couple's daughter and son are currently in India to locate their parents, who were on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar. Anal Kar's sister, Jhuma Majumdar, expressed the family's anguish, stating that they had not received any information about their loved ones after four days.

The CM assured the families that the state government would attempt to contact the embassies of Nepal and China to obtain lists of those rescued and missing. A family member proposed to Adhikari the idea of establishing a WhatsApp group with government officials for regular updates on the situation, adding, "We will consider all your suggestions. Don't think you people are alone. The entire state is with you."