India Ramps Up Aid as Hundreds, Including 300 Citizens, Remain Missing in Nepal Flash Floods
KATHMANDU/NEW DELHI – India has intensified its humanitarian response to the catastrophic flash floods ravaging the Nepal-Tibet border region, as concerns mount over the fate of hundreds of missing people, including an estimated 300 Indian nationals.
The disaster, which struck on Wednesday, was triggered by an avalanche that blocked a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River, sending a deluge of mud and debris through nearby villages. The sudden outburst has resulted in at least 165 confirmed deaths, with nearly 1,400 people reported missing across both Nepal and Tibet.
A Growing Humanitarian Crisis
The scale of the tragedy continues to unfold, with local officials warning that the death toll is likely to climb. According to Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Shisir Khanal, the missing individuals include a significant number of pilgrims and tourists who were traversing the region on their way to the Kailash Mansarovar, a sacred site for Hindus and Buddhists located in China’s Tibet region.
“Close to 300 Indians have been reported missing, and the government is trying to establish contact with them,” Minister Khanal stated during the Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu on Thursday.
India’s Relief Efforts
In a rapid response to the crisis, the Indian government has initiated a robust logistical operation. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced on Thursday that a second military flight carrying 37.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid—including food packets, essential medicines, and critical disaster relief material—had been dispatched to the region. This follows an initial shipment of 10 tonnes delivered on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held discussions with his Nepali counterpart Balendra Shah, expressed his deepest condolences for the lives lost. “India is prepared to provide Nepal with all possible types of humanitarian assistance. Our teams are closely coordinating on rescue and relief efforts,” the Prime Minister stated.
While aid is flowing, the deployment of specialized search and rescue teams remains in a state of readiness. Narendra Singh Bundela, Inspector General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), clarified on Thursday that while teams are on standby, they have not yet been deployed to the impact sites. “If a request is received from the Nepal government and the Government of India decides accordingly, an NDRF team will be sent,” he explained.
Seeking Information
Indian embassies in both Nepal and China have established dedicated helplines to assist families seeking information about their loved ones. The disaster has sparked widespread anxiety in several Indian states, where families are reporting dozens of missing residents who were traveling through the affected corridors at the time of the flash floods.
Footage emerging from the disaster zone shows the sheer intensity of the event, with high-velocity water and heavy debris sweeping away homes and infrastructure within minutes. As rescue teams continue to navigate the treacherous conditions, the international community remains closely focused on the evolving recovery operations.
