Nepal floods: MEA says 288 Indians uncontactable, around 200 stranded in China

The Ministry of External Affairs MEA on Thursday said 288 Indian nationals remain uncontactable following the devastating flash floods in Nepal as India continues efforts to trace the missing people through Nepalese authoritiesAddressing a special media briefing on the Nepal disaster in New Delhi MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Nepalese counterpart Balendra Shah on Wednesday and expressed Indias solidarity with Nepal offering all possible humanitarian assistance news agency IANS reportedBriefing by Official Spokesperson on NepalhttpstcoavBA097jZzmdash Randhir Jaiswal MEAIndia August 27 2026Providing details of the Indian nationals who remain out of contact Jaiswal said the 288 people include 73 Indians working on the Trishuli1 Power ProjectOur Embassy in Kathmandu is in touch with project head to get more details about these people as you well understand that communication lines in that area they are totally disrupted and therefore it has been difficult to get in touch with people on the ground he stated288 Indians in several groups remain uncontactableJaiswal said two groups of 37 and 49 Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Samrat and Fly Everest Travels were also among those who have not been tracedAnother 32 Indian nationals from West Bengal who travelled with the help of Samrat Travels were in Timure in Rasuwa district one of the areas severely affected by the disasterSixtyone Indian nationals from different states who had travelled through Richa Tours and 33 Indian nationals from Kerala were also among those who remain out of contactThese are five major groups who comprise by and large the 288 people that we are talking about Jaiswal saidHe added that India was making every effort to establish contact with the missing Indians through the Nepalese authoritiesWe will have more updates for you on this particular matter and we will try to keep you updated as soon as possible he said21 Indians rescued in NepalThe MEA Spokesperson said 21 Indian nationals have been rescued so far in NepalAs of 1300 hrs today we have been able to rescue 21 Indian nationals This group of 21 people are from Tamil Nadu Jaiswal statedHe added that the Indian Embassy and the Ambassador had spoken to the rescued Indians and assured them of all possible assistanceThe group is expected to reach Kathmandu following which arrangements will be made for their return homeAround 200 Indians stranded in ChinaJaiswal also said several Indian nationals who travelled to China for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra remain stranded on the Chinese sideThe Indian Embassy in Beijing is coordinating with local authorities for their safe evacuation he saidApproximately 200 Indian nationals have sought assistance for evacuation Jaiswal said Of these 95 were in Darchen and were proceeding towards Hilsa to cross into NepalFour others were in Guilin while 30 were in Zutulpuk and were travelling towards Saga Another 6070 Indians were also heading towards Saga he saidJaiswal said the Indian mission remained in touch with local authorities and was working for the rescue and evacuation of those strandedThere may be some people who are missing there and we are trying our best to locate them through the local authorities he addedSituation remains dynamicThe MEA also said it had received information about persons of Indian origin including a large group from the Isha Foundation comprising people of Indian origin foreign nationals and possibly some Indian nationals who remain uncontactableJaiswal cautioned that the figures were based on preliminary information and could change as authorities receive more detailsAs I said at the beginning of my remarks the information we are providing you is based on the preliminary information that has been shared with us We are in a dynamic situation he saidThe massive flooding originating in the Tibetan region swept through the transboundary Bhote Koshi River causing widespread destruction in NepalThe death toll from the flash floods has risen to more than 270 while more than 800 people remain out of contact according to Nepali authoritiesWith IANS inputs