New Delhi, August 28: The Indian government has shared encouraging news amidst the devastating floods and flash floods in Nepal. On August 28, 149 Indian nationals successfully crossed the border from China into Nepal, as confirmed by the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, via social media platform X.
Jaiswal stated that the situation of Indian citizens affected by the floods in Nepal is being closely monitored. A list of those safely evacuated has also been shared. The list includes the names of the 149 individuals who reached Nepal after crossing the border from China.
So far, 84 individuals have been rescued, including 21 from Tamil Nadu and 63 who were working on the Trishuli project. Additionally, around 400 people have safely reached China, and the embassy is in contact to facilitate their return home.
However, Jaiswal noted that communication has not yet been established with 320 individuals.
In a related development, the Nepalese government has waived trekking fees for foreign pilgrims returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for one week. According to Nepal’s immigration department, this exemption applies to foreign travelers who had previously obtained departure permits from the Rasuwagadhi immigration office and are now returning via the Hilsa border point in Humla district.
Normally, a fee of $50 per person per week is charged for this route, but it has been temporarily suspended due to the ongoing disaster.
Furthermore, the requirement for foreign travelers to have trekking guides has been lifted, and insurance-related conditions for travelers and guides have also been relaxed. The Rasuwagadhi-Timure route, connecting Nepal and China, has been severely damaged in the recent floods. The Bhote Kosi River’s flooding has caused significant destruction to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.
Before the disaster, the Rasuwagadhi route was one of the main paths for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, but access has now become challenging. According to the immigration department, as of August 26, 93 individuals had received departure permits from the Rasuwagadhi office, including 32 Indian nationals.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, as of Friday evening, 579 bodies have been recovered, while 1,924 individuals remain missing. Relief and rescue operations are ongoing, but heavy destruction and disrupted communication systems pose significant challenges to search efforts.
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