CM Fadnavis praises PM Modi, Jaishankar for swift evacuation of flood-hit tourists.
A large-scale, state-led rescue and evacuation operation has brought 106 Maharashtra tourists stranded in disaster-hit parts of Nepal safely back to India, while another 84 are expected to return home on Saturday.
The tourists were caught in flash floods triggered by sudden glacier and ice-rock collapses along the Nepal-China border. The first group of 106 citizens crossed into India on Friday, with a further 84 expected to arrive on Saturday.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a video conference with several of the returning tourists to check on their well-being.
During the interaction, the tourists thanked the Maharashtra Government and the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) for their quick coordination and timely intervention in securing their evacuation.
Addressing the returning citizens, Chief Minister Fadnavis said the swift rescue operation was made possible through the direct intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar. Their involvement helped facilitate diplomatic coordination between the two countries and ensure relief assistance reached those stranded on the ground.
Government agencies are continuing to monitor the situation and coordinate the safe return of tourists from several Maharashtra districts, including Raigad, Ahilyanagar, Nashik, Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur.
All 106 tourists from Nagpur district have been accounted for and are safe. Four were flown directly to New Delhi, while the remaining 102 travelled by bus to Patna, Bihar. After an overnight stay in Patna, the group boarded a train to Nagpur at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
A 45-member tour group organised by Sangamner-based operator Darshan Gunjal, comprising 27 people from Ahilyanagar, 12 from Nashik, five from Pune and one from Mumbai, reached safety in Chitwan, Nepal. With direct routes to Kathmandu blocked by severe road disruptions, the group travelled via Lumbini and crossed into India through Ayodhya on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a 37-member pilgrimage group organised by the Jai Girnari Shivdutta Mandir Trust in Raigad reached Saga, China. Accompanied by two doctors, all members were reported to be in good health. The group used alternative mountain routes to reach Kathmandu Airport and board their scheduled flight to India on Saturday.
The State Disaster Management Department is continuing ground-level efforts to facilitate the safe return of 11 Nashik tourists who are currently in Kathmandu.
In response to the severe flooding, the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has set up a 24-hour War Room at the state secretariat in Mumbai to coordinate relief and evacuation efforts.
Citizens seeking urgent information or reporting relatives who remain stranded can contact the toll-free helpline at 1070.
District Collectors across Maharashtra have also been directed to gather real-time information using digital geo-tracking systems from urban and rural local bodies.
Affected individuals and their families have been advised to provide accurate location details through the dedicated Sahayata portal.
https://geospatial.mahaseoc.in/Sahayata_gulf.
State authorities continue to monitor developments in real time, coordinating closely with the Ministry of External Affairs and local authorities in Nepal to ensure the safe return of all remaining citizens.
