Nepal floods: 37 Tamil Nadu tourists, 32 from West Bengal among over 130 Indians missing

More than 130 Indian nationals including dozens of pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra were reported missing in Nepal after flash floods swept through parts of the countrys central region causing widespread destruction and cutting off communication with several affected areasScores of other Indians were stranded as rescue and contact efforts continued Information about those affected remained limited due to the severe disruption of communication networks in floodhit areasThe Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and several state governments including Tamil Nadu West Bengal Kerala Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Maharashtra Odisha Uttarakhand Sikkim and Chhattisgarh have set up helplines for affected Indians and their familiesTamil Nadu tourists remain unaccounted forThe whereabouts of 37 of the 57 tourists from Tamil Nadu remained unknown while 20 others had been accounted for state officials said The tourists were reportedly travelling to a temple in the HimalayasThe Isha Foundation a nonprofit organisation based in Coimbatore said 77 of its members who were at an immigration centre were missing reported PTIThere has been no official information on the whereabouts of any of the people who were at the immigration office said its founder Sadhguru adding that 495 people have returned safelyThe Nepal government later said the entire staff of the immigration centre in question was out of contactWest Bengal group loses contact after flash floodA 32member group from Kolkata undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra was among those reported missing or untraceable following the flash floods an official saidThe group comprised 30 tourists and two tour managers They left Kolkata on August 21 and reached Nepal the following day On Wednesday morning they reached Rasuwagadhi near the NepalTibet border to cross into TibetThe group was at the immigration office at around 830 am when the flash flood struck the areaThere has been no communication with any of the 32 members since the flash flood struck the area the official told PTIResidents of Chandannagar in Hooghly district and Barasat in North 24 Parganas are also believed to be among those stranded or missing in NepalThe West Bengal government has opened helplines at the state police headquarters in Kolkata Families seeking assistance can contact 03324793311 or 9147890181Pilgrims and tourists among those affectedAccording to Samrat Tours and Travel agency at least 59 of the missing Indians were pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar YatraSeveral people from Uttar Pradesh were also believed to be stranded Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait who had travelled to Nepal by road with his associates was stuck in PokharaWe will reach Kathmandu tomorrow by flight and from there by flight to Delhi because of this situation and leave behind our vehicles as it wont be possible to travel by road the Bharatiya Kisan Union leader said in a video messageThe Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioners Office has asked relatives of affected residents to contact the state helpline 1070Maharashtra Kerala and other states step up assistanceSeven tourists from Maharashtra were reported stranded in Nepal Authorities had established contact with four of them including two each from Mumbai and Pune while efforts were underway to reach the remaining threeThe Maharashtra government has set up a 24hour control room at Mantralaya It can be reached through the tollfree helpline 1070 or 919321587143 Assistance is also available through controlroommaharashtragovinMeanwhile a group of 36 people from Kerala touring Nepal was reported safe and away from the floodhit areas The state has opened a helpdesk through NORKARoots with assistance available at 18004253939 or 918802012345 Families unable to contact people travelling in Nepal can also inform the Chief Ministers Office at 9447111844 or 9747132147States and Indian Embassy issue emergency contactsSikkim Odisha Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh have also issued emergency helpline numbers for residents with relatives stranded or affected in NepalThe Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said people could contact 03592201145 03592202461 and 03592202256 Odisha has set up a control room in New Delhi with helpline numbers 917428135044 918527580245 and 01123012807The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority has asked residents to contact 01352710334 2710335 2664314 2664315 2664316 8218867005 or the tollfree number 1070Chhattisgarh residents can contact 1070 or 917712223471 for assistanceThe Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has also issued emergency numbers for Indian nationals affected by the floods People seeking information or assistance can contact 977 985 131 6807 or 977 970 910 7500 as authorities continue efforts to establish contact with those missing and stranded in the floodhit areasWith inputs from PTI