India's foreign ministry opens emergency hub amid Nepal flood crisis

Heavy monsoon rains have unleashed a wave of floods and landslides in Nepal, prompting a large‑scale rescue effort and raising concerns for thousands of residents. The disaster has also struck a sizable Indian community living and working in the affected regions. Official estimates indicate that close to 300 Indian citizens are currently listed as missing, while dozens more have been rescued or are receiving medical care.

In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has set up a special control room in New Delhi to coordinate relief, track missing persons, and provide real‑time information to families. The hub brings together officials from the Indian embassy in Kathmandu, disaster‑management agencies, and the Indian Armed Forces to streamline assistance and repatriation efforts. Consular staff are fielding calls from relatives, verifying the status of individuals, and arranging transport for those who can be moved safely.

Local authorities in Nepal have declared several districts as disaster zones, with roads washed out and communication networks disrupted. Rescue teams, including Nepal’s Armed Police Force and the Indian Army’s medical units, are conducting search‑and‑rescue operations in remote valleys and riverbanks. Relief supplies such as food, clean water, and temporary shelters are being air‑dropped to cut‑off areas, while international aid agencies are mobilising additional resources.

The Indian government has urged citizens in Nepal to register with the nearest Indian mission and to follow safety advisories issued by local officials. Families of the missing are being urged to remain patient as verification processes continue, and the MEA has promised regular updates through its control room hotline and official channels.

As the monsoon season progresses, officials warn that further rainfall could exacerbate the situation, stressing the need for continued vigilance and coordinated cross‑border cooperation to mitigate the humanitarian impact.