21 Rescued Tamil Nadu Tourists Land in Delhi
A delegation of senior Tamil Nadu ministers led by Aadhav Arjuna on Friday met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and visited the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) Situation Room to review ongoing relief and assistance efforts for Indian nationals, including travellers from Tamil Nadu, affected by devastating flash floods and mudslides in Nepal
Twenty-one Tamil Nadu residents rescued from flood-affected areas in Nepal have reached Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated. The Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu were received at the airport in the national capital by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
At a media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that 21 Indian nationals, all from Tamil Nadu, who had arrived yesterday in Kathmandu from the flood-affected area in Nepal, had landed in Delhi today.
"In addition to these 21 Indian nationals, yesterday we gave you an update about 63 Indian nationals who are working at the Trishuli One hydropower project. They were also rescued yesterday. In addition to these 21 and 63, we have learned that 96 Indian nationals who were stranded on the Chinese side have safely crossed into Nepal by land. Efforts are underway to have them evacuated," the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said today.
Apart from this, the MEA spokesperson said, "As far as the number of people whom we are not able to contact or who are missing, the figure at this point in time is 320... There are also around 100 persons of Indian origin who remain uncontactable. These are people of Indian origin who may have gone for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, but they hold other nationalities."
Expressing deep relief, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who met with the group, highlighted that while 85 Indians have been rescued so far, the government remains focused on establishing contact with over 315 Indian nationals who are still uncontactable in the flood-affected regions. The group of 21 pilgrims was rescued by Nepal's Army from what the EAM described as a "very difficult place."
"I just received a group of Indians who had gone on pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar. They had been rescued after the floods. So, they were brought back to Kathmandu. They were rescued by Nepali Army. Then our Embassy arranged for them to come back," he said.
"I just came to meet them, share our great relief that they are safe and sound, and learn from them about their experiences," Jaishankar said.
Tamil Nadu delegation in Delhi
A delegation of senior Tamil Nadu ministers led by Aadhav Arjuna on Friday met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and visited the Ministry of External Affairs' (MEA) Situation Room to review ongoing relief and assistance efforts for Indian nationals, including travellers from Tamil Nadu, affected by devastating flash floods and mudslides in Nepal.
The delegation included Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan, Agriculture Minister Vinoth and Minister for Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Thennarasu, along with Tamil Nadu Government's Delhi Special Representative Venkatnarayana, Chief Resident Commissioner Jaya and NRT Commissioner Sathish.
The ministers also visited the MEA Situation Room, which is operating round the clock to assist Indian nationals and their families affected by the disaster. The meeting focused on the safety and well-being of Tamil Nadu residents who had travelled to Nepal, as well as coordination between the state and central governments for their rescue, assistance and safe return.
Earlier today, the Tamil Nadu ministers reviewed the operations of a Help Centre Control Room established at Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to coordinate assistance and rescue efforts for people stranded in Nepal.
During the visit, the ministers took stock of calls received at the help centre, information collected about affected individuals and coordination with agencies involved in rescue operations.
