Satheesh Reddy, former chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and his wife are among 31 pilgrims who are stranded near the Nepal-Tibet border following the devastating flash floods that hit the neighbouring nation on Wednesday morning.
Speaking at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal informed that at least 300 Indian nationals, mostly pilgrims, are missing.
“Foreign nationals, including Indians, take the route in the affected area to the Mansarovar Yatra. Close to 300 Indians have been reported missing and the government is trying to establish contact with them,” Khanal said. 21 Indian nationals have been rescued so far, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. However, 288 Indians continue to be missing, and efforts are on to rescue them.
A glacier collapse is said to have blocked the flow of the Lhende tributary of the Bhote Koshi river, triggering flash floods.
