Maharashtra Coordinates Evacuation of Hundreds of Tourists Stranded in Nepal Floods
Government agencies in Maharashtra are working round-the-clock to assist and evacuate tourists and residents stranded in Nepal following severe flooding, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday. The 24/7 Disaster Management Control Room at Mantralaya in Mumbai is actively coordinating relief and logistics with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safe return of affected citizens.
According to official data, 404 citizens from Maharashtra have been verified safe, while 338 individuals have been successfully contacted. Nearly 143 residents are currently on their way back to the state.
On Saturday, 41 people returned from Nepal's Saga, while a group of 106 citizens from Nagpur began their journey home via Bihar and is scheduled to arrive in Nagpur at 4:30 am on Sunday. Following directions from Chief Minister Fadnavis, buses and necessary transport services were deployed to facilitate their return.
A separate group of 45 tourists from Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Ahilyanagar who travelled with an operator based in Sangamner has safely re-entered Indian territory. The group was in Nepal's Chitwan during the flood outbreak. Due to road closures leading toward Kathmandu, their route was diverted through Lumbini, and they were expected to reach Ayodhya on Saturday before continuing onward based on state directives.
Relief and coordination efforts are being directed by Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs. Late on August 28, the Ministry of External Affairs released a list detailing 149 Indian tourists who safely crossed into Nepal from China, prompting state officials to verify and assist travellers from Maharashtra districts.
Authorities are also working to trace eight tourists from Borivali and Andheri who remain stranded in Nepal. Efforts to establish contact with Laxminarayan Acharya from Andheri and others in the group have faced mobile network disruptions, though officials remain in active communication with their relatives in Mumbai.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Emergency Operations Centre reported that it had received no distress calls regarding residents from Mumbai City or Mumbai Suburban districts.
