Congress Leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor Raises Concern Over Indians Missing in Nepal Floods

Kathmandu: Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor said he was in Kathmandu amid the Bhote-Koshi flash floods and had taken up the issue of Indians reported missing in the disaster-affected areas with Indian and Nepali authorities.

In a statement shared on X, Tharoor said he had travelled to Nepal for a series of engagements but was now following the situation as the country dealt with the impact of the flash floods.

“Over 130 Indians are reported missing, among them a number of Malayalis. My thoughts are with every family waiting for news,” he said.

Tharoor said that, since he was in Nepal, he had raised the matter with the Indian Ambassador in Kathmandu and senior Nepali authorities. He added that details of Malayali travellers who remained untraced had been compiled by NORKA-Roots and forwarded by the Office of the Kerala Chief Minister.

“I will keep pressing until each of them is accounted for,” Tharoor said.

He urged families in Kerala who were unable to contact relatives in Nepal to seek information and assistance through the following numbers:

Tharoor also asked people seeking information or assistance to tag Tharoor Office in their posts so that follow-up and coordination could be facilitated.

NORKA-Roots, the field agency under Kerala’s Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs, assists the state government in addressing the welfare and emergency needs of Keralites living or travelling abroad. During disasters, Indian diplomatic missions coordinate with local authorities to verify the status of Indian nationals, provide consular assistance and support relief and evacuation efforts where necessary.

The figure of more than 130 missing Indians, including Malayalis, was cited in Tharoor’s statement and remained subject to verification as search-and-rescue operations and official coordination continued.