A total of 53 people from Kerala, stranded in the flash flood-hit region in Nepal, are reported to be safe, a top official of NoRKA-Roots, a nodal agency for the welfare of expatriate Keralites, said on Thursday.
“The group includes adults and children. But we are given to understand that they are safe. There are some limitations on the ground, we believe. The flash floods have swallowed roads, bridges, houses and power projects, causing massive destruction in at least six districts of the Himalayalan country.
However, the ministry of external affairs said that 33 people from Kerala are untraceable. At least 162 people have been killed and over 400 are missing, including 142 Indians, following a massive flash flood through the Bhote Koshi river in a region in Nepal bordering Tibet since Wednesday. Due to mobility and network issues, we have not been able to directly speak to them.
Madhavan said they have not received any report so far of any person from the state missing or in an unsafe location. The state’s chief secretary and the resident commissioner are coordinating with the Indian embassy,” Madhavan told reporters. He said more clarity will emerge by tomorrow.
Due to network issues, contact could not be made.
Family members of some of the group members were able to speak to them over the phone till a while ago, he said.
