Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge has written separate letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, calling on the Centre to extend immediate humanitarian assistance to flood-ravaged Nepal and expedite the rescue of approximately 320 Indian nationals who remain uncontactable in the country.

Scale of the Disaster

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority confirmed that bodies of 579 people swept away by the flash floods had been recovered as of Friday evening. A further 1,924 people remained out of contact, according to the authority's latest figures. Kharge, citing recent media reports, noted that over 500 deaths have been confirmed and nearly 1,000 people are still unaccounted for, with thousands in urgent need of food, medicines, shelter, and essential relief.

What Kharge Demanded

In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Kharge said he is 'deeply concerned' about the devastating situation and requested that 'adequate humanitarian and relief assistance is provided to the affected people of Nepal in coordination with the Government of Nepal.' He specifically flagged the plight of stranded Indian nationals, urging that 'requisite directions are issued to the concerned authorities to intensify rescue and evacuation efforts and make all necessary arrangements for their safe and early return to India.'

In his separate letter to Home Minister Shah, Kharge urged the government to 'consider extending immediate and comprehensive humanitarian and disaster-relief assistance to Nepal,' including the deployment of teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) wherever required and in coordination with Nepali authorities. He argued that 'the NDRF's expertise and experience in responding to natural disasters can provide valuable support in efforts to save lives and bring urgent relief.'

India's Ongoing Relief Operations

Even as Kharge wrote his letters, India had already begun dispatching assistance. A third flight carrying 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid — including portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets, and water purification tablets — along with an 11-member medical and tunnel rescue team, reached Nepal on Friday. This followed Thursday's handover of a second consignment of 37.5 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) material, medicines, and food packets to Nepali authorities.

Indian Nationals at Risk

According to information cited by Kharge from the Ministry of External Affairs, around 320 Indian nationals remain uncontactable in Nepal. This comes amid a broader crisis that has left large parts of the Himalayan nation cut off, with roads damaged and communications disrupted in flood-affected zones. Notably, India and Nepal share an open border, and a significant number of persons of Indian origin reside and work in Nepal, making the consular challenge considerably complex.

What Happens Next

With India's relief flights already under way, attention now shifts to whether the Centre will formally deploy NDRF teams on the ground in Nepal — a step Kharge has specifically requested. The scale of the disaster, with nearly 2,500 people either dead or missing, suggests relief operations are likely to intensify in the coming days.