288 Indian Nationals, Mostly Pilgrims, Missing In Nepal Floods

(MENAFN- Nam News Network)

NEW DELHI, Aug 27 (dpa) -- At least 288 Indian nationals are missing in Nepal after Wednesday's flash floods, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs' spokesman said on Thursday.

Most of them were pilgrims who were travelling to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar lake, a sacred high-altitude pilgrimage spot for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon followers in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Seventy-three of the missing Indian nationals were working on a power project on the Trishuli river, while the others were groups of pilgrims from different parts of India travelling to Kailash-Mansarovar with five different travel agencies, spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said.

Another group from the Isha Foundation, a spiritual organization headed by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, are also missing. They include people of Indian origin, Indian nationals and foreigners.

In a separate statement, Sadhguru's foundation said they were unable to contact the 80-member group who last were in touch from a border crossing from Nepal to Tibet, which is believed to have been washed away by the flood.

The ministry's spokesman said there were 200 Indian nationals stranded on the Chinese side, and all efforts were being made to evacuate them with the help of local authorities.“Some others on the Chinese side may be missing, we do not have full information yet,” he said.

Jaiswal said 21 Indian nationals from the state of Tamil Nadu had been rescued and were on their way to Kathmandu.

The Indian government had so far airlifted 47.5 metric tons of emergency relief material including medicines, tents, blankets, solar lamps, food and other items. More assistance - including the provision of Bailey bridges to help in the rescue efforts - was being considered.

“We will assist in any way the Nepal government requests,” the spokesman said.

--NNN-dpa

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