Thousands Affected as Nepal Floods Leave Hundreds of Indians Unaccounted for
Flash floods in Nepal have left over 300 Indian nationals missing, while Nepalese forces rescued 21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims and coordinated their return to India.
The sudden flash floods that swept across Nepal’s hilly terrain this week have triggered a humanitarian crisis extending beyond the country's borders. Indian officials estimate that roughly 320 Indian citizens are currently unaccounted for, a figure that includes tourists, pilgrims and workers who were in the affected districts when the waters surged.
Rescue teams from the Nepalese army have been deployed across the hardest‑hit areas, focusing on evacuating stranded groups and providing emergency relief. Among the successful operations, the army rescued 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who were on a religious trek when the deluge struck. The rescued pilgrims have now been handed over to Indian authorities and are on their way back home.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs, led by Minister S. Jaishankar, has been in constant contact with Kathmandu to monitor the situation and to arrange for the safe repatriation of its nationals. Jaishankar confirmed that the 21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims have been rescued and are being returned, while emphasizing that the government is working closely with Nepalese officials to locate the missing Indians.
The floods, triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rains, have caused landslides, road blockages and the destruction of several villages in Nepal’s eastern and central regions. Local authorities have declared a state of emergency, mobilising the Nepalese army, police and disaster response units. Relief camps have been set up to shelter displaced families, and the Red Cross Society is distributing food and medical supplies.
India has pledged logistical support, including the deployment of medical teams and the provision of essential supplies to the affected border areas. The foreign ministry has also urged Indian citizens traveling in Nepal to register with the embassy and to stay alert for further weather warnings. As rescue operations continue, families on both sides of the border await news of their loved ones, hoping for a swift resolution to the crisis.