Nepal Flash Floods: PM Modi Speaks To Balendra Shah, India Puts IAF Aircraft On Standby For Relief Mission

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke with Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and assured him of all possible humanitarian assistance as devastating flash floods in the Himalayan nation left several people dead and hundreds missing, including more than 100 Indians.

India has put Indian Air Force aircraft, disaster response teams and relief supplies on standby as authorities prepare to step up assistance to Nepal, where the Bhote Koshi River flash floods struck the Rasuwa region on Wednesday morning.

PM Modi Assures Nepal Of Humanitarian Assistance

Modi conveyed his condolences over the loss of lives and said India stood in solidarity with the people of Nepal during the disaster.

“Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal. The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time,” Modi said in a post on X.

“India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal. Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts,” he added.

The conversation came as rescue agencies continued efforts to locate hundreds of people whose whereabouts remain unconfirmed following the sudden flooding in Rasuwa.

More Than 100 Indians Among 384 Tourists Reported Missing

According to a preliminary situation update issued by the Nepal Tourism Board, 384 tourists and travellers have been reported missing in the affected areas.

The list includes 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens. Of the foreign nationals, 105 are Indians, while others are from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa and the Netherlands.

The Tourism Board stressed that the figures were preliminary and were being verified and cross-checked with travel agencies, local authorities and other concerned agencies. The nationalities of several travellers are also yet to be confirmed.

The missing travellers were linked to nine different travel agencies, according to the preliminary information.

IAF C-130 To Leave Today, C-17 On Standby For Thursday

India is preparing to send relief supplies to Nepal at the earliest, with the IAF ready to undertake rescue and relief tasks assigned by the Government of India, Ministry of Defence sources said.

An IAF C-130 aircraft carrying relief material, medicines and earth-moving equipment is expected to leave for Nepal on Wednesday. A C-17 aircraft carrying additional assistance has been kept ready to depart on Thursday afternoon, the sources said.

The NDRF has also been placed on standby for deployment for rescue and relief operations if required.

Rescue Operations Continue In Rasuwa

The flash floods in the Bhote Koshi River caused widespread disruption across parts of the Rasuwa region, raising concerns over the safety of tourists and others travelling through or staying in the affected areas.

Authorities and rescue teams are continuing operations while attempting to establish the whereabouts of those reported missing and assess the full scale of the damage.

At least seven people have been confirmed dead so far, while several others remain missing, according to preliminary reports. The casualty and missing figures could change as verification and search operations continue.

Nepal Issues Emergency Helpline Numbers

The Nepal Tourism Board has issued emergency contact numbers for tourists and families seeking information or assistance.

The toll-free emergency number is 1234, while the hotline is 1144. The Tourist Police can be contacted on 9851289445.

Tourists in the affected areas have been urged to remain calm, rely on official information and follow safety instructions issued by authorities.