Gujarat-linked people missing in Nepal floods rises to 26

The number of Gujarat-linked people reported missing after devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 26, including several non-resident Indians (NRIs), officials said on Friday.

The Gujarat government is coordinating with the Centre and the Ministry of External Affairs to trace the missing people and assist those affected by the disaster. The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) added nine names to its earlier list of 17 untraceable people.

According to the updated list, the missing individuals have links to Ahmedabad, Anand, Rajkot, Valsad, Surat, Kheda, Amreli, Gandhinagar and Vadodara. Several are citizens of the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The SEOC said five missing people are linked to Ahmedabad, five to Anand, three each to Surat and Kheda, one each to Rajkot and Valsad, four to Gandhinagar, two to Amreli and two to Vadodara. Several were travelling along the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route, while others were last reported near the Friendship Bridge, the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border or the Bagmati region.

Gujarat Minister Jitu Vaghani said on Thursday that the state government was working with the Central government and MEA to assist Gujaratis and other Indian citizens affected by the floods.

He said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the state administration were in touch with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the MEA, with details of the missing persons shared with the concerned authorities.

Vaghani added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah were in contact with the Nepal government as efforts continued to trace those affected and provide assistance to their families.

The state government has also issued helpline numbers for residents seeking information about their relatives or requiring assistance. They can contact the state control room at (079) 232-51900 or 9978405304, or call 1070.

The flash floods, which originated in Tibet on Wednesday, swept through parts of central Nepal, damaging towns and villages, destroying critical bridges and affecting hydropower projects as floodwaters moved downstream. 

with inputs from PTI