New Delhi : The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the situation in flood-affected areas of Nepal remained dynamic, with authorities continuing efforts to trace and evacuate Indian nationals stranded in the region.
Addressing a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the ministry was reconciling, from time to time, different lists of affected Indian citizens. He cautioned that the figures could change as new information became available and as contact was established with more people.
Jaiswal said 21 Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu, who had travelled to Nepal in connection with the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, had arrived safely in New Delhi from Kathmandu. The Indian Ambassador in Kathmandu had met the group and enquired about their well-being.
He further said that 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project had been rescued. In addition, 96 Indian nationals who had been stranded on the Chinese side had safely crossed into Nepal by land. Efforts were under way to facilitate their further evacuation, and the MEA would share additional details as and when they were confirmed.
According to the spokesperson, around 320 Indian nationals were currently not in touch with Indian authorities. However, he stressed that the figure was provisional, as several lists were still being reconciled and the situation was changing rapidly.
Jaiswal also referred to around 100 persons of Indian origin who remained uncontactable. He said some of them might have been travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra but could hold nationalities other than Indian. Their cases were therefore being assessed separately while the authorities worked to establish contact.
The spokesperson said that more than 400 Indian nationals on the Chinese side were safe and had been communicating with their families through mobile phones and other means. The Indian Embassy in Beijing was in touch with them and was coordinating with local authorities and travel agents to explore arrangements for their evacuation.
The MEA control room in New Delhi is operating round the clock, while the Indian embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing are monitoring the situation and responding to enquiries from families. Jaiswal said updated figures would be issued after the ongoing verification and reconciliation of lists was completed.
