Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday reviewed the situation arising out of the Nepal flood tragedy, and directed teams of officials and ministers to go to Kathmandu and Delhi to coordinate the rescue efforts concerning those from the state.
The CM held a review meeting at the Secretariat with his senior ministers and top officials, including Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar.
Vijay "has instructed Thiru Ashish Kumar, IAS, Resident Commissioner, TN House, New Delhi along with a team to proceed to Kathmandu to oversee the relief and rescue measures in coordination with Nepali authorities and facilitate the safe return of survivors," the government said.
He has also instructed four Ministers-- Adhav Aruna (PWD), A Rajmohan (School Education), R Vinoth (Agriculture) and K Thennarasu (Non Resident Tamils) "to go to Delhi in order to coordinate and monitor the rescue and relief measures in coordination with the Union Government, facilitate the safe and speedy return of those rescued and extend medical help needed immediately," it said.
Attention-calling motion in the Tamil Nadu Assembly
Opposition parties, including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and others, on Thursday raised an attention-calling motion in the Tamil Nadu Assembly over the state government's efforts to rescue Tamils stranded in Nepal following devastating flash floods. In the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin questioned the government over the number of calls received on the helpline and the action taken so far for those who remain unreachable. "Many Tamils who went missing in Nepal are still unreachable. How many calls were received on the government helpline? What action has been taken?" Udhayanidhi asked.
Information on Tamils stuck in the calamity
The Tamil Nadu government has said that it is taking all necessary steps to rescue 103 Tamils stranded in Nepal following flash floods, Minister A Rajmohan informed the state Assembly on Thursday. Responding during the Assembly proceedings, Rajmohan said search and rescue operations were being carried out intensively in coordination with the Nepal government." As per initial information, 54 Tamils from 10 districts and three persons from Puducherry, totalling 57 persons, were taken to Nepal for Kailash Yatra," Minister A Rajmohan said.
The issue was raised after families of tourists from Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district approached authorities seeking information about their relatives. A travel agency had organised a Nepal tour for around 57 people, of whom 37 are reportedly stranded following flash floods, while 20 have been confirmed safe. The families have been visiting the travel agency's office to seek updates, with police also deployed outside the premises.
Rescue Efforts
The minister said a control room has also been set up at Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to coordinate assistance for affected people and their families.
In addition to the 54 people from 10 districts of Tamil Nadu and 3 from Puducherry who had gone on the pilgrimage, it has come to the notice of the government that a tour operator in Chennai had taken 49 pilgrims to Mansarovar, taking the total number of persons embarking on the pilgrimage to 106, the minister said.
"The state government is monitoring the rescue and status of pilgrims on hourly basis, and currently steps are on to bring the 20 people who were rescued through Kathmandu," Rajmohan told the Assembly, responding to a "call-attention" motion moved by the opposition parties on the subject.
Apart from 57, a Chennai-based travel agency took 49 pilgrims to Mansarovar yatra, and currently efforts were on to ascertain their travel plans and whereabouts, he added.
Helpline numbers set up by the Tamil Nadu Government:
Within India: 18003093793
Outside India: +918069009900 (Missed Call)
Contact: +918069009901
Tamil Nadu House, New Delhi, Control Room: +91 9289516712