Centre Asks States for Details of Indians Missing in Nepal Flash Floods

The central government has directed all states and Union Territories to compile and share details of Indian nationals who may be missing following the flash floods in Nepal. The information sought includes names, contact numbers, and other relevant particulars of individuals who were in the affected areas or whose whereabouts are unknown.

Officials said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will use this data to reach out to the families of those affected and assist in efforts to establish contact with the missing. Chief Secretaries have been asked to coordinate the collection and transmission of this information to the Centre, which is expected to streamline communication between agencies and concerned families.

More than 1,000 people are reported missing after flash floods struck Nepal's districts bordering Tibet on Wednesday. Some estimates suggest over 300 of the missing are Indians, including tourists headed to Kailash Mansarovar and workers at the Trishuli hydropower project.

Meanwhile, flood alerts have been issued in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which share a border with Nepal. Additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to both states as swelling waters are expected to flow downstream into the Gandak river. Two NDRF teams have been sent to Bihar's West Champaran and Muzaffarpur, while another has been deployed in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar, a district considered vulnerable due to its proximity to the river.

Currently, nine NDRF teams are positioned in Bihar and 11 in Uttar Pradesh, with more kept on standby. The NDRF has advised local authorities in border areas to monitor the situation closely. A rise in water level was recorded at Furke Khola in Nepal, approximately 160 km from the Indian border.