Mallikarjun Kharge Urges Centre to Aid Flood-Hit Nepal and Evacuate Stranded Indians
Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has appealed to the central government to extend swift humanitarian relief to flood-affected Nepal and to step up operations to evacuate stranded Indian citizens.
What Happened
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi dated August 28, 2026, and made public on August 29, 2026, Mallikarjun Kharge expressed serious concern over the extensive destruction caused by devastating floods across Nepal. Citing recent media reports, Mr. Kharge noted that the disaster has taken more than 600 lives and left thousands of people missing, while many more are urgently in need of basic necessities including shelter, food, and medical supplies.
Mr. Kharge requested that the Government of India coordinate directly with Nepalese authorities to deliver comprehensive humanitarian aid. He also highlighted the safety of Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin currently stranded in flood-hit areas, urging central authorities to issue instructions for prompt rescue and transport arrangements back to India. According to information attributed to the Ministry of External Affairs, roughly 320 Indian nationals remained out of contact in Nepal.
Additionally, Mr. Kharge wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling for the immediate deployment of disaster relief resources and citing the historical relationship between India and Nepal. He suggested sending National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, in consultation with the Nepal government, to support local search, rescue, and relief operations with their specialized disaster management capabilities.
Key Highlights
- Letters to Leadership: Mallikarjun Kharge dispatched formal requests to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the flood crisis in Nepal.
- Heavy Casualties: Flooding in Nepal has reportedly led to over 600 fatalities and left thousands missing, creating acute shortages of food, shelter, and medicine.
- Stranded Citizens: Approximately 320 Indian nationals are uncontactable in Nepal, prompting calls for prioritized rescue and repatriation measures.
- Call for NDRF Deployment: The Congress leader recommended mobilizing India’s National Disaster Response Force to assist Nepalese authorities in evacuation and relief work.
Why This Matters
The situation involves significant loss of life in a neighbouring nation alongside the safety of hundreds of uncontactable Indian citizens abroad. Given India’s disaster management capabilities, bilateral coordination and potential deployment of specialized personnel such as the NDRF could directly impact rescue and humanitarian efforts on the ground.
What to Watch Next
Key developments to follow include potential official responses from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding aid shipments, diplomatic coordination between New Delhi and Kathmandu, and updates from the Ministry of External Affairs concerning the status of the 320 uncontactable Indian nationals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mallikarjun Kharge ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do?
Mr. Kharge urged the Prime Minister to deliver humanitarian and disaster relief to Nepal in coordination with the Nepal government, and to intensify measures to rescue and evacuate stranded Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin.
How many Indian nationals are currently reported uncontactable in Nepal?
Citing details from the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Kharge stated that approximately 320 Indian nationals are currently uncontactable in Nepal.
What specific role was suggested for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)?
In his communication to Home Minister Amit Shah, Mr. Kharge suggested deploying NDRF personnel, with the agreement of the Nepalese government, to assist local authorities in specialized search, evacuation, and life-saving operations.
Source: Based on reporting from The Hindu.