India dispatched a third special flight carrying more than 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance — along with an 11-member medical and rescue team — to Kathmandu on Friday, 28 August, as New Delhi intensified its relief push following the devastating flash floods that struck Nepal on Wednesday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the dispatch, marking a significant escalation in India's bilateral disaster response.

What the Third Flight Carried

The consignment included portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets, and water purification tablets. The 11-member team on board comprised doctors, paramedics, and a reconnaissance unit specialising in tunnel rescue operations. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed the departure in a post on X, stating: 'India continues to support Nepal's ongoing relief and rescue efforts.'

Indian Nationals Rescued from Floods

Earlier on Friday, EAM Jaishankar personally received 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu at the Delhi airport after they were evacuated from flood-affected areas in Nepal. The group had travelled to Nepal as part of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through various travel agents. Jaishankar said he was 'deeply moved' upon hearing their accounts firsthand, and extended gratitude to the Nepali Army and the Nepali government for conducting the rescue. He also commended the Indian Embassy in Nepal for coordinating the group's return.

Separately, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a bi-weekly press briefing in New Delhi, confirmed that 84 Indian nationals had been rescued so far — including 63 workers employed at the Trishuli-1 hydropower project. An additional 96 Indian nationals who were stranded on the Chinese side of the border have since safely crossed into Nepal by land.

India's Broader Relief Mobilisation

Beyond the three special flights, India is also mobilising Bailey bridges to support rescue and relief operations in areas where road infrastructure has been damaged. The MEA has activated a round-the-clock control room in New Delhi to coordinate the response. Officials are in active contact with state governments from which Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims had departed, to track and assist any remaining stranded nationals.

Scale of the Crisis

Wednesday's flash floods caused widespread destruction across Nepal, disrupting transport links, displacing communities, and cutting off several areas from relief access. The disaster struck during an active pilgrimage and tourism season, leaving a significant number of foreign nationals — including Indian citizens — stranded across flood-affected zones. This is the third major flood emergency in Nepal in recent years to trigger a large-scale Indian humanitarian response, underscoring the depth of the bilateral disaster-management partnership.

With rescue operations still ongoing and Bailey bridges yet to be deployed, the full scale of India's relief commitment is expected to grow in the coming days.