Naveen Patnaik expresses grief over Nepal flood deaths, concern for missing Indians

Bhubaneswar, Aug 27 (IANS) Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Thursday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the catastrophic flash flood and mudslide in the Bhote Koshi river in Nepal.

Taking to his X handle, Patnaik wrote that he was deeply saddened to learn about the deaths and offered condolences to families who had lost their loved ones.

The BJD supremo also voiced concern over Indians who remain missing in Nepal following the tragedy. He said he was praying for the early rescue of those who are uncontactable and urged authorities to ensure swift rescue operations.

An Odia couple, Sandeep Mohapatra and Siddharthi Kumari Sahu, are still missing. The couple, from Khordha district, has been living in Australia since 2018 and reached Nepal on August 22 for a vacation.

The state government revealed that their phone numbers are switched off. Officials have collected details from Mohapatra’s sister and shared them with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for necessary action.

Odisha Youth and Sports Services and Odia Language, Literature & Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj earlier said state authorities were coordinating with officials deployed by the Government of India in Nepal to identify and assist people from the state and inform their families. He added that the exact number of Odia tourists and others affected was not yet available and may take another day or two to compile.

Meanwhile, the MEA said on Thursday that as many as 290 Indians remain out of contact in the aftermath of the deadly floods in the Bhote Koshi river, which have left a trail of destruction across the Himalayan country.

–IANS

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