admin Around 320 Indian nationals are still missing in the aftermath of a devastating flash flood that struck areas near the Nepal-Tibet border this week, a spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry said on Friday.
At least 400 Indian nationals were stranded but safe on the Chinese side while another 96 had crossed into Nepal by land, the spokesperson added.
Randhir Jaiswal, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman, told reporters that 320 nationals remain uncontactable. He said 96 Indians who were stranded on the Chinese side have crossed over to Nepal by land and efforts were being made to evacuate them.
Relatives check the lists of missing people following flash floods in Nepal, outside a hospital in Kathmandu. AFP
India also will send another flight with relief supplies along with a tunnel rescue team, Jaiswal said. One portable, prefabricated bridge has been sent to Nepal to help restore connectivity in the flood-affected areas, he said.
Nepal officials have said many Indian tourists were on pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred site for Hindus.
State media reported on Friday at least five people died and 558 were missing in Gyirong County, Tibet.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that 260 of the 558 missing people were foreigners. In addition, nearly 100 Chinese citizens were missing on the Nepal side, China’s foreign ministry said.
The US State Department said 90 Americans were unaccounted for in China and Nepal. It said it was not aware of any US deaths. Three Americans have been rescued.
Army soldiers help a family disembark from a helicopter after they are rescued from an area affected by flash flooding in Nuwakot district. AP
The board said 51 Malaysians were missing. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said that 55 Ukrainians are missing. The number includes two tourist groups of 47 and seven people, in addition to one Ukrainian woman travelling with a foreign tour group, the ministry said.
The Australian government said 39 Australians were missing. The board said 33 of the missing were from Britain.
Nepal’s tourism board said 25 of the missing were from Canada. South Korean government officials said nine citizens working on building a hydropower plant in Nepal were missing.
Eight Singaporeans were missing, according to Nepal tourism board. Nepal’s tourism board said eight tourists from Germany were missing.
The Russian embassy in Nepal said eight of its citizens were missing. The board said six South Africans were missing.
The board said six tourists from Latvia were missing. Japanese media said the five Japanese tourists missing are a couple and their children. Five people from New Zealand were missing, said Nepal’s tourism board.
The board said four French citizens were missing. The board said three from Belgium were missing.
The board said three visitors from Spain were missing. The board said two people each from Italy, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Ireland and Netherlands were missing. It said 10 others – one each from Belarus, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, Philippines, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Serbia and Sweden – were also missing.
Agencies
