3 Indians rescued by Nepali Army from flood-hit Rasuwa village, says envoy

Three Indian nationals were among four people rescued by the Nepali Army from Chilime village in Nepal's flood-ravaged Rasuwa district, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava said on Monday, August 31.

The rescue comes as India continues to extend assistance to Nepal in rescue and relief operations following devastating flash floods that swept across northern and central parts of the country on August 26.

The death toll from the disaster crossed 900 on Monday, while more than 4,000 people remained missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

"Met 3 Indian nationals and their Nepali colleague, who were rescued by Nepali Army from Chilime village, that was badly affected by flash floods in #Rasuwa. We thank the Nepali army for their help," Srivastava said in a post on X.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is facilitating the return of the three Indians to India, the envoy said.

India has also deployed specialised teams to assist Nepal in rescue operations and the identification of victims, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday.

A 19-member Indian forensic team began work in Kathmandu on Sunday to support DNA analysis for identification of mortal remains, while an Indian tunnel rescue team continued operations at hydropower sites in Chilime and Langtang, the ministry said.

Expert teams from India and China are also assisting Nepal's rescue teams in efforts to trace 933 workers and employees at various hydropower project sites who have remained out of contact since August 26. Many of them are believed to be trapped inside tunnels, the NDRRMA said.

The flash floods, believed to have been triggered by the collapse or avalanche of ice and rock near the Nepal-Tibet border, swept through the Bhotekoshi River corridor, destroying homes, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower projects.

The Indian Embassy has been continuously facilitating the return of Indian nationals rescued from flood-affected areas, officials said.