Chennai, August 30: Tamil Nadu Minister Rajmohan announced on Sunday that at least 219 out of 319 residents stranded in flood-affected Nepal have been rescued. Efforts are still underway to locate the remaining 100 individuals.
Speaking to reporters at Chennai Airport after returning from New Delhi, Rajmohan explained that the rescued residents are being brought back in groups. A flight from Delhi to Coimbatore is expected to arrive with 33 people on Monday evening, while six others will reach Chennai the same night.
The Tamil Nadu government is coordinating with the central government, Indian diplomatic officials, and rescue agencies in Nepal to locate the missing individuals.
Among the affected travelers is a group of 57 members who were traveling through a travel agency in Kumbakonam. Twenty-one members of this group have been rescued and safely brought to Chennai. Rescue teams are still working to find the remaining 36 members.
The government is also awaiting information about 49 residents from Chromepet who traveled with the Mahadevi travel group. Their current whereabouts have yet to be confirmed.
Rajmohan noted that another group of 150 residents from Tamil Nadu reached Kathmandu via the China border and are returning to India on different flights. Additionally, the safety of 39 other individuals has been confirmed.
Describing the floods as an international disaster, the minister emphasized that the extensive damage and difficult terrain are hindering rescue and identification efforts. Bodies and personal belongings could be washed away hundreds of kilometers from the most affected areas, making search operations particularly challenging.
Military personnel and rescue agencies from both countries have been deployed to the affected regions. However, access to many locations has become difficult due to damaged roads, disrupted communication networks, and adverse weather conditions.
A dedicated war room has been established at the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi to coordinate the rescue operations, gather information about stranded residents, and assist their families.
State officials are maintaining contact with the central government and other officials involved in the mission.
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