West Bengal to send team to Nepal for rescue ops after MEA nod

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced late Friday night that the state government will dispatch a team to Nepal to assist in rescue and relief operations, provided the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) grants permission. The Chief Minister has instructed the Chief Secretary to formally seek the MEA's clearance for the delegation.

The proposed team will include a state minister, a legislator, an Inspector-General-rank police officer, and a senior IAS officer at the secretary or joint secretary level. Once approval is received, the delegation will be moved to Kathmandu, Mr. Adhikari said.

Of the 39 people from West Bengal reported missing in Nepal, the state government has established contact with two individuals — Anukul Poddar and his wife, both aged above 60 and residents of Basirhat. Arrangements are being made for their early return. The remaining 37 people are still untraced.

Addressing concerns raised by families, the Chief Minister noted that many relatives have heard reports of some individuals being rescued on the Tibet side. He assured families that the government is working to compile a list of those names.

On Friday night, Mr. Adhikari spoke with the families of the missing persons via a video call from Bhawani Bhawan, the state police headquarters. Senior police officials were also present during the interaction. Families voiced their concerns about the ongoing rescue operations and sought information on how to track updates regarding their relatives.

Among the 37 still missing, 32 had embarked on the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra with a Kolkata-based travel agency. This group included 30 tourists — at least 21 of them senior citizens — and two tour operators.

One of the missing individuals is Sharmistha Bhowmik Roy, daughter-in-law of the late former Union Minister Mukul Roy. Her husband, Subhrangshu Roy, a former MLA, said the families of the missing have become like one family as they await their loved ones' return. A delegation of senior Trinamool Congress leaders met Subhrangshu Roy on Saturday.