More stranded Keralites travel back from Nepal flood zone; 7 still untraced

More stranded Keralites travel back from Nepal flood zone; 7 still untraced Thiruvananthapuram, more Keralites who were stranded after the severe flooding in Nepal have begun their journey back to India, according to NORKA Roots, a Kerala government agency responsible for coordinating overseas affairs and welfare services for non-resident Keralites. The agency announced on Sunday that 45 out of the 52 individuals who reached out to its help desk following the floods have been confirmed safe. Efforts continue to locate the remaining seven, whose details have been forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs. A 23-member group, including 19 Keralites, who had embarked on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, arrived in Kathmandu around 12:30 am on Sunday and is now preparing to return home. The group was stranded in the floods while staying at Darchula, the base camp for the pilgrimage, and was later relocated to a camp via Kothari. A medical team consisting of six doctors, led by Dr. Rekha Nair, is also part of the returning group. This team, having completed the pilgrimage, is heading toward India and is expected to arrive in Kathmandu later on Sunday. Authorities have stated that the group is traveling safely. Among the 23 members of the group, several are British citizens with ancestral ties to Kerala. Another 44-person group, which had traveled to Kathmandu on a tour organized by a travel agency, has already returned to India and is currently in Gorakhpur. The group departed Gorakhpur by bus for Bengaluru and is anticipated to arrive in the city around 8:30 pm on Sunday. From there, they will take a bus to Kozhikode and are expected to reach there on Monday morning. Of the 52 individuals who contacted NORKA Roots' helpline regarding the flood situation, 45 have been confirmed safe. These individuals are currently residing in Nepal and other parts of India and are taking measures to return home. Among them, 16 have already returned to Kerala on Saturday. According to the agency’s statement, seven individuals remain unaccounted for. Four of these are Australian citizens, one is a British citizen, and the seventh is a U.S. citizen. Their information has been passed on to the Ministry of External Affairs for further assistance. NORKA Roots has arranged for those arriving in India from Nepal to proceed to Kerala, as directed by the Chief Minister's Office. An additional 31-member group from Kerala, who were stranded in Nepal, successfully reached the state on Sunday. The ongoing coordination reflects the continued efforts to ensure the safety and timely return of Keralites affected by the recent floods in Nepal. Efforts to trace the missing individuals are ongoing, with authorities working closely with relevant agencies to facilitate their return. As the situation develops, updates are expected to provide further clarity on the status of the remaining seven individuals.