New Delhi: Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said on Thursday that the Government of India has initiated intensive emergency operations to ascertain the well-being of Indian citizens trapped in the devastating floods in Nepal and to rescue them safely.
The Central government stepped up its relief efforts shortly after Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal announced that at least 177 people had lost their lives in the flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, with nearly 300 Indian tourists missing.
In the wake of the tragedy, Jaishankar conducted a high-level review meeting with the Foreign Secretary, his ministry's team, and Indian envoys in Kathmandu and Beijing.
Sharing updates about the meeting on social media, the minister stated that urgent rescue efforts are underway to ensure the safety and assess the status of all Indians in the flood-affected regions.
In this regard, the Ministry of External Affairs is maintaining continuous communication and coordination with various central ministries, state governments, tourism bodies, and concerned officials. Jaishankar clarified that the Indian government is working hand in hand with the Nepalese government to extend aid to victims and rescue those stranded.