External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday reviewed India’s relief and rescue efforts for Nepal following the deadly floods along the Bhote Koshi River. He held a meeting with officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian missions in Kathmandu and Beijing to assess the situation, including the status and well-being of Indian nationals affected by the disaster.

During the meeting, MEA officials briefed Jaishankar on additional relief supplies being prepared for Nepal. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal and other officials attended the discussions. Jaishankar said the government was giving the issue the highest priority as rescue and relief operations continued in the flood-hit areas.

India has already sent 47.5 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Kathmandu through two aircraft. A C-130J aircraft carried 10 tonnes of supplies, including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines, while a C-17 aircraft transported 37.5 tonnes comprising relief items, medicines and food supplies.

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The Indian government is also mobilising Bailey bridges to support rescue and relief operations in Nepal. The assistance comes as the floods have caused extensive destruction along the Bhote Koshi River, damaging settlements, roads, hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure downstream.

According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 469 bodies have been recovered from several districts, with Chitwan reporting the highest number at 178, followed by Nawalparasi East with 110. The disaster has also left 977 people out of contact, including 517 foreign nationals.

The MEA said 290 Indians remained out of contact following the floods, while the disaster has also affected nationals of several other countries. At least 73 people have been injured, including victims in Rasuwa, Dhading and Nuwakot. India’s diplomatic missions in Kathmandu and Beijing are continuing to provide updates on affected Indian nationals as rescue, relief and assistance efforts remain underway.

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