Kathmandu, August 27: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor emphasized the urgent need for India to respond to the devastating floods in Nepal. He stated that India should provide any necessary assistance to its neighboring country during this challenging time.
In an interview, Tharoor remarked, “It is crucial for India to react promptly to this disaster. As you know, our Prime Minister has spoken with his counterpart. We have already provided relief materials, and we hope for further assistance.”
Tharoor highlighted that Nepal requires all the help it can get, given the catastrophic impact of the floods. He noted, “The most important thing is that Nepal receives the aid it needs. The devastation has been severe. Lives have been lost, and entire villages have been destroyed. Eighteen bridges have been washed away, highways have been affected, and eight hydropower stations have been damaged. This is a very serious situation.”
The situation remains particularly concerning as many individuals are still missing, raising fears that the death toll could rise significantly. Tharoor stated, “In addition to all this, many people are still unaccounted for. The final death toll could be very high. We have only confirmed 160 deaths so far. Some are saying it could be 180, but this number could reach into the thousands.”
Tharoor expressed hope as 20 Indian tourists have been found, urging that efforts to locate the missing individuals should continue. He said, “We hope that the remaining individuals will also be found. We pray for all those who are missing. This is a very difficult time for the families who have lost their loved ones.”
The Congress MP asserted that India should tailor its assistance based on Nepal’s specific needs. He added, “I believe that we should provide whatever Nepal needs at this time. The Nepalese police, army, and others are on the ground. If they feel they need our help, we should offer it. Whether they require technical assistance or anything else, we should step forward. In all these situations, it does not matter what we want to send; what matters is what they need from us.”
Earlier in the day, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal confirmed that at least 300 Indian nationals, mostly pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar journey, are reported missing following the catastrophic floods in the Himalayan nation.
Khanal, speaking at the NDTV World Unveiling Summit in Kathmandu, stated that 160 people have died in the disaster that struck the Rasuwagadhi area, with thousands still unaccounted for as officials work to assess the scale of the devastation. However, the official death toll has now risen to 177.
Khanal remarked, “In just a few hours, several towns were devastated.” He further noted, “Thousands of families have lost their homes and are currently missing. We are still trying to assess the full scale of the disaster.”
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