Nepal floods: India sends 47.5 tonnes of relief aid; 288 Indians remain uncontactable

India is making "urgent efforts" to ascertain the status and well-being of Indians stranded in flood-hit areas of Nepal, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, as the death toll from the devastating floods rose to 270.

Jaishankar said he held a review meeting with the foreign secretary, officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and India's ambassadors in Kathmandu and Beijing to assess the situation.

"Held a review meeting with Foreign Secretary, Team MEA and our Ambassadors in Kathmandu & Beijing on the Nepal flood disaster," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

"Urgent efforts are underway to ascertain the status and well-being of all Indians in the flood-affected areas," he said.

The MEA is coordinating with various ministries, state governments, tour operators and project authorities to trace Indians affected by the floods, Jaishankar said.

"We are working closely with the Nepali side, both on this aspect and on the relief efforts," he added.

According to Nepal's Tourism Board, 644 tourists remain out of contact following the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi river area, including 178 Indians.

Briefing the media on the situation, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 288 Indian nationals remain uncontactable.

Nepal Police said in its latest update that 270 bodies have been recovered from areas affected by Wednesday's floods.

India sends HADR assistance, medicines to Nepal

Jaishankar said India's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and medical supplies have reached Kathmandu.

"More assistance is being mobilised to support relief efforts," he said.

India has dispatched 10 tonnes of HADR assistance and essential medicines to support Nepal's response to the floods.

A C130J aircraft took off on Wednesday at around 8.30 PM, carrying 10 tonnes of relief material including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, medicines.

A second Indian flight carrying 37.5 tonnes of HADR material, such as tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, dewatering pumps, kitchen sets, gensets, has also departed for Nepal this morning, according to the ministry of external affairs.

"India remains in close and continuous touch with the Nepalese authorities. We will continue to strongly support the ongoing relief efforts," Jaishankar said.

Flash floods devastate central Nepal

The sudden flash flood swept through parts of central Nepal bordering Tibet early Wednesday, causing extensive damage to settlements along the Bhote Koshi River and affecting at least a dozen hydropower projects.

The flood surged through the river at around 9 am local time from the Tibet side, affecting Rasuwa and Dhading districts bordering Tibet and Nuwakot district, southwest of Kathmandu, officials said.

Preliminary investigations have pointed to a collapsed glacier as the cause of the flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border.

Initial reports of an earthquake had led to speculation that a tremor caused a landslide.

However, the US Geological Survey later said the disaster was caused by a "glacial collapse", in which a glacier or part of it disintegrates.

Downstream impact in India

The flood has also raised concerns in India, with the Central Water Commission (CWC) saying a sudden rise in the water level of the Trishuli river at Furke Khola in Nepal had been reported due to suspected flash flood or glacial lake outburst flood activity near the Nepal-China border.

The impact of the flooding is likely to travel downstream into the Gandak river in India, according to the CWC advisory.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the chief ministers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh regarding the disaster and directed authorities in border areas likely to be affected to remain on high alert.

Local administrations, rescue teams and the National Disaster Response Force have been placed on high alert in the two states.

Both states have been advised to maintain close monitoring of the situation.

According to the CWC, water levels in reservoirs on the Nepal side are receding and the situation is under control, with no panic-like situation reported in India.

The affected area includes routes towards the Hindu pilgrimage site of Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet, as well as the Langtang trekking region and the religious site of Gosain Kunda.

At least 77 people reported missing in Nepal were travelling with the Isha Foundation, founded by Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru.

The group had completed its Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage and was returning to Kathmandu when contact was lost, according to the foundation's coordinator Maa Gambhiri.

She said one of the foundation's team members spoke to group leader Praveen at 9:05 am local time on Wednesday. When they tried to contact him again about 10 minutes later, they could not get through to him or anyone else.

"It seems the incident occurred within those ten minutes," she said.

The MEA and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu have issued emergency contact numbers for Indians seeking assistance or information about nationals affected by the flash floods.