Nepal floods: Nearly 300 Indians missing; MEA sets up special control room

NEW DELHI: Ministry of external affairs on Thursday set up a round-the-clock special control room in Delhi to assist people stranded in the flash floods of Nepal.This comes after death toll jumped to 359 while 288 were reported missing.“We have set up a control room in the Ministry of External Affairs here, which will function round-the-clock,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.“Our embassies, both in Kathmandu and in Beijing, have also set up 24×7 helplines,” he added.Later in the day. MEA shared details of the control room in a statement.“The control room can be contacted at +91 11 2308 8718 +91 11 2308 8719. For WhatsApp calls/messages: +91 9968291988. Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in,” it said.The emergency contact numbers of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu are (also on WhatsApp): +977 985 131 6807; +977 970 910 7500; and +977 981 032 6117.According to the MEA, Nepali authorities can be contacted at the following helpline numbers: Tourist Police: +977 9851289445; Nepal Army: +977 9851072914 (email: dgmi-foreign@nepalarmy.mil.np); NDRRMA: +977 9851320269 /+977 9849281097; Rasuwa Police: +977 9851254960; Assistant chief district officer, Rasuwa: +977 9851164422; Nuwakot Police: +977 9851282380; Assistant chief district officer, Nuwakot: +977 9851248777; Dhading Police: +977 9851229860; Chief district officer, Dhading: +977 9851247777; Chitwan Police: +977 9855013999; Assistant chief district officer, Chitwan: +977 9855088891.

Later, Jaiswal shared an update on X, saying that 63 Indians were rescued from Iran.“Update on Indian nationals rescued in Nepal. Please see the names of 63 Indian nationals working at Trishuli-I project in Nepal who have been rescued.” he said.Massive flash floods originating in Tibet swept through central Nepal on Wednesday, devastating several towns and villages, washing away critical bridges and crippling a dozen hydropower projects, affecting multiple districts.India on Thursday said it stands “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Nepal to help it deal with the crisis as rescue operations gathered momentum in the Himalayan nation.