External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar received 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu at Delhi airport on August 28 after they were rescued from devastating flash floods in Nepal while travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The group had been stranded in Nepal’s Rasuwa region after the disaster struck on August 26, with the Nepal Army carrying out the rescue and helping bring them to safety.
Jaishankar said he was “moved” after hearing their experiences first-hand and thanked the Nepal government and Army for their efforts, while appreciating the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu for facilitating their return to India. The survivors’ safe return comes as rescue and tracing operations continue across flood-hit Nepal, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying around 320 Indian nationals remain uncontactable and about 100 people of Indian origin are also missing.
Survivors Reach India
The 21 pilgrims were part of a larger group travelling from Tamil Nadu for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. According to reports, the group had travelled in three buses when flash floods hit the Rasuwa area near Nepal’s northern border. Two buses were caught in the disaster, while the bus carrying the 21 survivors managed to escape the worst of the flooding. The pilgrims were subsequently moved to safety and later brought to Kathmandu before travelling to New Delhi.
Jaishankar met the group after they arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport and listened to their accounts of the ordeal. “Received a group of 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who were rescued from the floods in Nepal. Was moved to hear their experience first hand,” he said in a social media post. He specifically thanked the Nepali Army and the Nepal government for the rescue operation and acknowledged the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu for facilitating the pilgrims’ return.
The pilgrims’ accounts also offer a glimpse into the fear and uncertainty faced by those trapped in the disaster zone. Earlier, one survivor had described how the group waited for help as darkness approached, with several elderly members among them. After being rescued, the pilgrims reportedly expressed gratitude to the Nepal Army for helping them escape the affected area.
Rescue Efforts Continue
The successful evacuation of the 21 pilgrims is a significant relief, but it comes amid a much wider humanitarian crisis. The flash floods that struck Nepal on August 26 have caused extensive destruction, with roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged across affected areas. Nepal’s authorities have continued search-and-rescue operations as the death toll and number of missing people rise.
For India, tracing its citizens remains a major priority. The MEA said on August 28 that around 320 Indian nationals were still uncontactable in Nepal, while approximately 400 Indians stranded on the Chinese side of the border were reported to be safe and in contact with their families. The ministry has stressed that the figures remain dynamic as authorities receive and verify information from different locations. Around 100 people of Indian origin holding other nationalities were also reported to be uncontactable.
India has also offered broader assistance to Nepal as the neighbouring country deals with the scale of the disaster. The focus remains on locating stranded Indians, supporting evacuation efforts and extending humanitarian assistance to Nepal. The situation remains fluid, with rescue teams working in difficult terrain and authorities monitoring the possibility of further flooding.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The safe return of the 21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims is a moment of relief in an otherwise deeply distressing disaster. Their rescue also highlights the importance of cooperation between neighbouring countries when human lives are at risk. The gratitude expressed towards the Nepal Army and government is a reminder that compassion and coordinated action can transcend borders, nationality and circumstance.
At the same time, the families still waiting for news of their loved ones must not be forgotten as search operations continue. In moments of disaster, the priority must remain saving lives, keeping families informed and ensuring that every possible effort is made to reach those still stranded or uncontactable. As rescue efforts continue, what more can countries and communities do together to ensure that people caught in such disasters are reached quickly and safely?
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Received a group of 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who were rescued from the floods in Nepal.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 28, 2026
Was moved to hear their experience first hand. Thank the @NepaliArmyHQ and Government for this rescue effort. Appreciate @IndiaInNepal’s facilitation of their smooth return to India. pic.twitter.com/P0cNsY5exF
