21 Rescued Tamil Nadu Residents Reach Kathmandu Following Nepal Flash Floods

Twenty-one residents of Tamil Nadu rescued from flood-affected regions in Nepal have arrived safely in Kathmandu, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava met with the group to enquire about their well-being ahead of their planned return to India.

The development comes as the Tamil Nadu state government intensified coordination efforts for citizens caught in the disaster. On Friday, a delegation of Tamil Nadu ministers visited the dedicated Help Centre Control Room set up at Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to review ongoing assistance and rescue operations.

Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna, School Education Minister Rajmohan, Agriculture Minister Vinoth, and Minister for Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Thennarasu inspected the control room facilities and assessed the emergency arrangements. The ministers held discussions with officials concerning the help centre's operations, the volume and nature of distress calls received, data collection on affected persons, and coordination protocols with rescue agencies.

The crisis stems from a catastrophic flash flood that struck the Tibet-Nepal border on August 26, which sent a powerful surge of water, sediment, and boulders through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems. Nepal has experienced extensive devastation, particularly in Rasuwa district.

According to the MEA, names of 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli-I project in Nepal who have been rescued have been released, while 288 Indian nationals remain uncontactable.

Nepal Police reported that the overall death toll from the flash floods in Rasuwa and surrounding districts climbed to 469 on Friday, with 1,545 people injured and rescued. The Chitwan district recorded the highest fatalities at 178, followed by 110 in NP East, 44 in Gorkha, 37 in Nuwakot, 33 in Dhading, 28 in Tanahun, 27 in NP West, and 12 in Rasuwa.

Rescue teams have pulled 644 people to safety from Rasuwa, 898 from Nuwakot, and three from Dhading, while 28 police personnel remain missing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) noted that 977 people were missing across the affected regions, with 4,348 Nepal Police personnel deployed to handle ongoing relief and search operations.