External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reviews rescue operations and the safety of Indian nationals as India prepares additional relief supplies for flood-hit Nepal..reports Asian Lite News Desk
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday reviewed ongoing rescue and relief operations in Nepal following the devastating flash floods in the Bhotekoshi River area of Rasuwa, saying India was giving the situation the “highest priority”.
Jaishankar said he discussed the latest situation with Indian diplomatic missions in Kathmandu and Beijing and received updates on the safety and well-being of Indian nationals affected by the disaster.
“Discussed the relief and rescue efforts underway in Nepal today. Our Embassies in Kathmandu & Beijing provided an updated picture in respect of the status and well-being of Indian nationals,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
He added that officials in the Ministry of External Affairs had also briefed him on additional relief supplies that India plans to send to Nepal.
“The concerned MEA Divisions apprised us of the further relief supplies to be sent to Nepal. We give highest priority to this issue,” he said.
The latest developments come after a catastrophic flash flood struck the Tibet-Nepal border on August 26, sending a powerful surge of water, sediment and boulders through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems.
The flooding caused widespread destruction in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, damaging infrastructure and leaving hundreds of people dead or unaccounted for. According to The Kathmandu Post, authorities involved in rescue operations have so far recovered 475 bodies.
India has been closely monitoring the situation as several Indian nationals were among those affected by the disaster. The Nepal Tourism Board said 117 tourists had been rescued, including 85 Indians.
Of the other tourists rescued, 16 were Chinese nationals, nine were from South Korea, two each were from the US and Italy, while three others had not yet been identified.
Among those who narrowly escaped the disaster was a group of pilgrims travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, including Visakhapatnam DLDA Chairman Gadu Venkatappa.
According to Venkatappa’s brother, Garudappal Naidu, the group of 28 pilgrims, including eight members of their family, had travelled from Bhagalpur Airport on August 24 through a private travel operator for the pilgrimage.
A series of delays and timely interventions reportedly helped the group avoid the worst of the disaster.
India has also continued to assist Nepal with relief supplies as the neighbouring country deals with the aftermath of the floods.
In a related development, Nepal’s Cabinet approved the Krishi Samagri Company Limited to procure 25,000 metric tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser from India through government-to-government procurement.
Meanwhile, rescue operations remain underway across the affected areas amid concerns that additional flooding could threaten communities downstream.
A large barrier lake reportedly formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers and breached on Friday, raising fears of another surge of water.
Rasuwa Chief District Officer Narendra Pariyar told The Kathmandu Post that the Nepali Army had informed him that the lake had breached.
Authorities subsequently ordered renewed evacuations in parts of the Trishuli area as heavy flows from upstream threatened to raise water levels in the river.
Nepal Police also issued warnings to communities in potentially vulnerable areas as officials monitored the situation and prepared for possible further flooding.
The latest threat has complicated rescue and relief efforts already being carried out in difficult mountainous terrain. Damaged roads and infrastructure have made access to some affected areas challenging, while authorities remain focused on locating missing people and assisting those stranded by the floods.
India’s continued diplomatic engagement and relief assistance come as New Delhi works to monitor the condition of its citizens and coordinate with Nepalese authorities.
The flash floods have underscored the vulnerability of communities and travellers in the Himalayan border region, where sudden water surges, landslides and difficult terrain can rapidly disrupt transport and rescue operations.
With the situation remaining fluid, authorities in Nepal are continuing to monitor river levels and upstream developments while maintaining rescue and evacuation efforts in areas considered at risk.
