New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and expressed condolences over the loss of lives in the floods in Nepal.
Modi said India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal during the crisis. He reaffirmed India’s readiness to provide all possible humanitarian assistance.
Indian teams are coordinating closely with Nepalese authorities on rescue and relief operations, according to an official statement.
Meanwhile, the Central government is also closely monitoring the situation amid concerns that floodwaters could move downstream into India.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with the chief ministers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh regarding the situation. Local administrations, rescue teams and the National Disaster Response Force have been placed on high alert in border areas likely to be affected.
According to the Central Water Commission advisory and media reports, a sudden rise in the Trishuli River water level was reported at Furke Khola in Nepal, around 160 km from the Indian border.
The rise has been attributed to suspected flash flood or glacial lake outburst flood activity near the Nepal-China border. The impact is likely to travel downstream through the Gandak River in India.
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have taken measures, including evacuation and other support, for local communities near the India-Nepal border. Both states have been advised to remain alert and closely monitor the situation.
Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Defence are monitoring developments.
The Central Water Commission has reported that water levels in reservoirs on the Nepal side are reducing and the situation is under control. The government has also said there is no need for panic.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said India has dispatched 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies and essential medicines to support Nepal’s response to the floods.
India has also issued emergency contact numbers following reports of Indian tourists missing in Nepal.
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu has asked Indians requiring assistance to contact +977 985 131 6807 or +977 970 910 7500. Both numbers can also be contacted through WhatsApp.
Also, the Embassy of India in Beijing has separately issued an advisory for Indian nationals stranded near the affected flash-flood areas in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Affected Indians can contact Chinese officials on the ground at 0086 139 8999 0012. They can also contact the Embassy of India in Beijing at 0086 185 1428 4905, including through WhatsApp.
The Embassy in Beijing said it remains in close contact with local authorities to assist affected Indian nationals and urged people to follow official advisories issued by local authorities.
More than 150 people have died after flash floods and landslides struck parts of Nepal and China’s Tibet region, leaving widespread destruction and hundreds missing.
The disaster caused major damage to bridges, houses and infrastructure. Several hydropower projects were also affected by the sudden flooding.
The flooding followed a sharp rise in water levels in the Bhote Koshi River near the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepalese officials said the disaster occurred soon after an earthquake hit the Tibet region.
Officials are examining whether a glacial outburst may have triggered the sudden surge of water.
In Nepal, the floods and landslides affected Rasuwa and Dhading before spreading to other districts, including Nuwakot, Chitwan and Nawalparasi East.
Rescue and search operations are continuing across the affected areas. Teams have been deployed to locate people reported missing and assess the damage caused by the floods.
Nepal Police said 157 bodies had been recovered from flood-hit areas. The Nepal government has estimated that around 500 people remain missing.
The scale of the disaster has added to concerns over communities and critical infrastructure located along rivers close to the Nepal-Tibet border.
