Nepal MP thanks PM Modi for flood aid as Bhote Koshi toll hits 270
Synopsis
As the Bhote Koshi floods kill at least 270 and leave scores missing — including Indian nationals — Nepal's RSP MP Vidushi Rana has publicly thanked PM Modi for immediate relief, calling India's response a reflection of a bond that goes far deeper than geography. The disaster, she says, rivals the 2015 earthquake in its devastation.
Key Takeaways
The Bhote Koshi floods in Nepal have killed at least 270 people , with scores — including Indian nationals — still missing.
RSP MP Vidushi Rana thanked PM Narendra Modi for sending condolences and relief materials 'as soon as this happened.' Nepal has deployed both government and private helicopters for rescue; hospital beds in Kathmandu have been cleared for victims.
Rana called the disaster comparable in scale to the 2015 Nepal earthquake — 'one of the biggest devastations in the country.' BJP National Executive Member Vinay Sahasrabuddhe , present in Kathmandu, said India-Nepal ties grow stronger through shared tragedy.
The India-Nepal open border spans 1,751 kilometres , with Rana describing the bilateral relationship as rooted in culture, family, and history.
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP Vidushi Rana on Thursday, 27 August expressed Nepal's gratitude to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for swiftly dispatching relief materials following the devastating Bhote Koshi floods, which have claimed at least 270 lives with scores still missing — including Indian nationals. Rana, speaking from Kathmandu, said the Prime Minister Balendra Shah-led government's singular priority is maximising lives saved.
Scale of the Disaster
The Bhote Koshi floods rank among Nepal's worst natural calamities in recent memory. Rana described the scale of destruction as comparable only to the 2015 Nepal earthquake, calling the current tragedy 'one of the biggest devastations in the country.' Rescue operations are ongoing, with both government and private helicopters deployed across affected zones.
'Whatever happened is very, very unfortunate. I haven't slept all night just thinking about people, about families who are missing their children, missing their loved ones, and just hoping for some good news to come, just to know that everything is okay,' Rana said.
Government Response and Rescue Operations
The Nepal government has mobilised a multi-pronged response. Hospital beds have been cleared in Kathmandu, with non-urgent surgeries postponed to accommodate flood victims. Private helicopters have been pressed into service alongside state aircraft to reach remote areas. 'The government is working very hard as we want to save as many lives as possible,' Rana said.
Nepal has also received outreach from the international community, including offers of ambulances and other emergency equipment, according to Rana.
India's Aid and the Bilateral Bond
Rana was particularly vocal in her appreciation for India's response. 'I am really, really thankful to PM Modi because, as soon as this happened, he gave a condolence message to the families who are suffering and to the country. We've already received a lot of relief materials from India. Every time there is a disaster, we get help from India,' she said.
She also highlighted the depth of the India-Nepal relationship, describing the 1,751-kilometre open border as more than a geographic boundary. 'It is a border that connects people, cultures and customs. We have a 'Roti-Beti' relationship... So, we have a different relationship with our neighbour, and very few neighbours can boast of that,' she noted.
Indian Delegation Voices Solidarity
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Executive Member Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, who was also present in Kathmandu, described the visuals of the calamity as 'very frightening and causing immense grief and pain.' He said India's ties with Nepal deepen precisely during such moments of crisis.
'There is no elder brother or younger brother in this relationship... It is a people-to-people relationship between both nations,' Sahasrabuddhe said, likening bilateral ties to 'a relationship between two brothers living in the same family.'
With rescue operations still active and the missing persons count yet to be fully reconciled, the coming days will be critical for both the affected families and the Nepal government's disaster response machinery.
Point of View
But it also underscores a structural reality: Kathmandu's disaster-response capacity remains heavily dependent on external support, particularly from New Delhi. The Bhote Koshi floods expose how Himalayan nations with fragile infrastructure face compounding risk as extreme weather events intensify — a pattern that is accelerating, not stabilising. India's rapid aid response is commendable, but the deeper question is whether the bilateral framework includes long-term climate resilience investment, not just post-disaster relief. The 'Roti-Beti' rhetoric is warm; a joint early-warning and flood-mitigation architecture for shared river systems would be warmer still.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have died in the Bhote Koshi floods in Nepal?
At least 270 people have lost their lives in the Bhote Koshi floods, according to reports as of 27 August. Scores more remain missing, including Indian nationals, with rescue operations still active.
What aid has India sent to Nepal after the Bhote Koshi floods?
India dispatched relief materials to Nepal shortly after the disaster struck, with PM Modi also sending a condolence message to affected families and the country. RSP MP Vidushi Rana confirmed receipt of the aid, noting that India responds 'every time there is a disaster.'
Who is Vidushi Rana and why is she speaking about the floods?
Vidushi Rana is a Member of Parliament from Nepal's ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). She spoke about the Bhote Koshi disaster to express the government's priorities — maximising rescue efforts — and to thank India for its swift relief response.
How does the Bhote Koshi flood compare to past Nepal disasters?
RSP MP Vidushi Rana described the Bhote Koshi floods as comparable in scale to the 2015 Nepal earthquake, calling it 'one of the biggest devastations in the country.' The 2015 quake killed nearly 9,000 people and remains Nepal's deadliest modern disaster.
What steps has the Nepal government taken in response to the floods?
The Nepal government has deployed government and private helicopters for rescue operations and cleared hospital beds in Kathmandu by postponing non-urgent surgeries. The administration has also received international offers of support, including ambulances and emergency equipment.
