219 out of 319 people from Tamil Nadu stranded due to severe floods in Nepal have been safely evacuated, while the search for 100 is ongoing. The government is coordinating rescue efforts with the Center and Nepal.
The operation to rescue hundreds of people from Tamil Nadu stranded due to devastating floods and landslides in Nepal has been intensified. According to the state government, out of a total of 319 people, 219 have been located and are safe, but 100 people are still missing.
The Tamil Nadu government is working in collaboration with the central government and the Nepal administration for this major rescue operation.
State Minister Rajmohan provided detailed information on the matter on Sunday. He stated that out of the 319 people who went to Nepal, 219 have been traced, and they are expected to return to Chennai by the night of August 31st.
On the instructions of Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, a special team of ministers was sent to Delhi. This team coordinated with the central government and Nepali officials to monitor the relief efforts.
The team included Aadav Arjunan, Rajmohan, Thennarasu, and Vinod. The team returned to Chennai late on Saturday night, but the Minister for Non-Resident Tamils' Welfare, Thennarasu, is still in Delhi overseeing the rescue operation.
Speaking to reporters at Chennai Airport, Rajmohan mentioned that a special war room has been set up at Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to coordinate the rescue efforts.
Through this war room, continuous contact is being maintained with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Government of India, and officials in Nepal.
He said, "For the past three days, the ministers were in Delhi, engaged in efforts to safely evacuate the people of Tamil Nadu stranded in Nepal." During this time, a meeting was also held with the Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs.
According to Rajmohan, arrangements have been made at four levels to help the affected families. The government has received a large number of phone calls, and based on the information received, efforts are being made to locate the stranded passengers.
Minister Rajmohan stated that a total of 319 people from Tamil Nadu had gone to Nepal in various groups. Among them, 219 have been confirmed safe.
They are being brought back to India through various means.
A major concern is a group of 49 people who went to Nepal for the Mahadevi pilgrimage. No information has been received about them yet, and they are currently considered missing. The government is conducting a campaign to locate them and all 100 missing people.
Rajmohan described the rescue operation as a 'large-scale international disaster' and said it is extremely challenging.
He explained that due to the floods and landslides, people's belongings have been washed away for hundreds of kilometers from the site.
The armies of India and Nepal are engaged in this relief and rescue operation on a large scale. More than 15,000 military personnel are involved in this campaign.
Helicopters are being used to evacuate people to safety, and medical teams are also on site. The identification of some bodies recovered in Nepal is still pending, and efforts are being made for this.
*Edit with Google AI Studio
जोगेन्द्र सिंह शेखावत
