Nepal flash floods: 53 Malayalis unaccounted for, says NORKA Roots

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: NORKA Roots has said that 53 Malayalis are currently unaccounted for following the flash floods in Nepal, based on information received through various helplines. The state government is carrying out coordinated efforts at different levels to trace them, establish direct contact with them and ensure their safety, NORKA Roots Chief Executive Officer Rajesh Madhavan said.

The 53 people were identified by consolidating information received from the Chief Minister’s Office helpline, the Chief Secretary’s Office, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority helpline and the NORKA Roots helpline. The list includes adults, children and families. According to the information available, some of them travelled to Nepal with their families, while others went as part of different groups for holidays, pilgrimage and trekking.

A preliminary assessment suggests that all of them are safe. NORKA Roots said phone numbers of most of them have been collected, but direct contact has not been possible due to the ongoing network disruptions.

Travel has also become difficult following the floods. The Chief Secretary’s Office is functioning as the main coordination centre and is in direct contact with the Union Ministry of External Affairs to exchange information. NORKA Roots’ Delhi NRK Development Office and the Kerala House Resident Commissioner’s Office are also coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs. Officials are regularly contacting the relatives of those missing, collecting new information and updating details at the help desk.

Meanwhile, a 36-member group that travelled from Kanhangad and a 16-member group from Kottayam have been confirmed safe and reported to have no problems. Officials have been able to establish direct contact with both groups, Rajesh Madhavan said. These two groups are not included in the list of 53 people.