Two days after the devastating flash floods that swept through several districts of Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that at least 320 Indians — up from 290 on Thursday — and over 100 people of Indian origin remain missing. The total toll increased to 579 on Friday, with more bodies being recovered as search and rescue operations continued for the third day amid fears of fresh floods following an increase in the water level in the Bhotekoshi River area.

The Indian government has stepped up its support to Nepal's ongoing relief and rescue efforts, with a team of doctors, paramedics & recce team for tunnel rescue operations being deployed. The assistance includes portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets.

Rescue Efforts Continue

Chinese authorities had informed Nepal that around 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated in the lake, with another 3 million cubic metres potentially entering it over three days, raising concerns about a possible breach.

Express Photo Express Photo "We had been warned about the water gushing down southward towards Nepal (Rasuwa) but we chose to carry on our rescue and relief mission as we thought the widened river beds could hold additional water flow without causing damage to life and property," a senior Nepal Army officer told The Indian Express.

Two days after the deadly flash floods that swept through several districts of Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said at least 320 Indians — up from 290 on Thursday — and over 100 people of Indian origin remained missing. The total toll increased to 579 on Friday, with more bodies being recovered as search and rescue operations continued for the third day amid fears of fresh floods following an increase in the water level in the Bhotekoshi River area.

At least 1,924 people, including 517 foreign tourists, are reported to be still missing. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said about 400 Indian nationals who were stranded on the Chinese side of the Sino-Nepal border were reported to be safe. These are pilgrims for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

He said 149 Indian nationals who were stranded on the Chinese side had safely crossed over to Nepal. Today at the army base where a rescue and relief command centre is based, scores of school children were among those who were rescued from the adjoining regions cutaway after the floods.

(Express Photo The assistance includes portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a post on X. "An 11-member team of doctors, paramedics & recce team for tunnel rescue operations is also on-board. India continues to support Nepal's ongoing relief and rescue efforts," he said.

More assistance is in the pipeline. Two aircraft with relief material have left, and a third tranche of relief material is expected to leave this evening”. The river front and the adjoining areas were cordoned off and residents were made to climb up to higher grounds.

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(Express Photo A medical team is also being sent. In addition, we have also offered Bailey bridges along with their associated technical teams so that connectivity can be restored quickly in the affected parts of Nepal. One Bailey bridge is already in Nepal and can be deployed for relief efforts,” he said.

We await a response from the Government of Nepal on this front,” he said. “We stand ready to offer any other assistance that the Nepal authorities might require,” Jaiswal said. Security personnel send out loud warnings on an impending second flood, after reports of a second lake break in the higher regions.

(Express Photo On Friday, 21 people from Tamil Nadu, who were among those rescued, arrived in New Delhi in the afternoon, and were received “Received a group of 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who were rescued from the floods in Nepal. Was moved to hear their experience first hand. Thank the @NepalArmyHQ and Government for this rescue effort.

Appreciate @IndiaInNepal’s facilitation of their smooth return to India,” Jaishankar said in a post on X. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said rising water levels at the site of the flood increased the risk of another flood in the area.

"The water level mixed with mud has increased at the same place where the flash flood occurred on Wednesday, and there is a risk of more flooding in the area," the NDRRMA said. The river front and the adjoining areas were cordoned off and residents were made to climb up to higher grounds.

(Express Photo China's emergency response system for natural disasters has four levels, with Level-I being the highest and Level IV the lowest. Chinese authorities had informed Nepal that around 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated in the lake, with another 3 million cubic metres potentially entering it over three days, raising concerns about a possible breach.

Express Photo Express Photo "We had been warned about the water gushing down southward towards Nepal (Rasuwa) but we chose to carry on our rescue and relief mission as we thought the widened river beds could hold additional water flow without causing damage to life and property," a senior Nepal Army officer told The Indian Express. With Agencies

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