New Delhi, Aug 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) The gushing cascade of water and sludge last week not only devastated the Nepal-China border areas, affecting Kathmandu’s trade and tourism, but may have also caused an impediment to Beijing’s aim of expanding trade to South Asia through this route in the future.

For China, the border offered a possibility of connecting trade to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India, with further access to Bangladesh.

When a Nepal-China border upgrade was announced, officials in Beijing had said that trade with third countries could also be done through this route in the future "if there was agreement with a third country willing to sign separate agreements", according to popular Nepali news site Kantipur on Monday.

The Rasuwa-Kerung transit point had emerged as the "lifeline of trade" between Nepal and China after the 2015 devastating earthquake had caused massive damage to various sections of the Araniko Highway, it added.

The 114-km highway connects Nepal to China, and was completed in 1967. Its construction began under the then King Mahendra, reportedly with Chinese assistance.

Now, Nepal’s northern trade routes are disrupted by landslides and floods each year during the monsoon, blocking roads, washing away bridges, and bringing cargo movement with China to a near halt, according to a Kathmandu Post report barely days before this deluge.

The problem has persisted for nearly a decade, and this year is no different, stated the report earlier this month.

Though China had assured to upgrade the border point and the vulnerable sections of the highway under its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), some reports suggest not much has happened.

Even after the 2024 floods and landslides, two major land routes through Kerung and Tatopani had to be closed for over a month before bilateral trade reopened at the end of October. This year, the Tatopani point also remained completely closed because of landslides along the Tatopani-Bahrabise section, according to reports.

These reports termed such closures being "hardly an isolated event", adding that for about a decade, the road has been hit by landslides "of varying severity almost every monsoon, cutting off the border for weeks or months".

According to Monday’s Kantipur report, Rasuwa-Kerung came into operation end-2014 where its strategic importance increased after an earthquake the following year.

"Tatopani in Sindhupalchowk, another major northern trade point of Nepal, lies on the Araniko Highway. The Tatopani border point remained closed for years after the earthquake badly damaged several sections of the Araniko Highway. Although it came into limited operation later, it did not regain its importance as a major land route between Nepal and Tibet," it stated.

Since then, Rasuwagadhi became the main trade point for Nepal with China, with trucks carrying clothes, electrical appliances, vehicles, machinery and daily essentials starting to come to Kathmandu through the narrow gorge of the Bhotekoshi River, added the report.

Last week’s widespread inundation has been attributed to an ice and rock avalanche having triggered the Bhotekoshi flood. Thus, Beijing’s ambition to expand land trade with India and Bangladesh through Nepal has been severely disrupted by the catastrophic floods.

The disaster highlighted the fragility of Himalayan infrastructure and ironically raised concerns about China’s massive dam-building projects in Tibet, which directly affect downstream nations. While Beijing has invested heavily in Nepal-border infrastructure in order to use it as a corridor to further access, experts have blamed China’s mega dam project for posing massive damage to human life, ecology, and security in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.

Its mega dam at Medog in Tibet, with a planned 60,000 MW capacity, raises fears of seismic risks and downstream flooding. Now, the current situation leading to a trade disruption, China’s plans to use Nepal as a land bridge to South Asia face delays and heightened scepticism.

Source: IANS

The post China’s plan to use Nepal as land bridge to South Asia faces uncertainty after last week’s deluge appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Dhaka, Aug 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) The dope tests of two accused in the case involving the deaths of four members of a Hindu family in Bangladesh's Rangpur returned negative amid mounting scrutiny over the investigation by Bangladesh police into the murder case, local media reported on Monday.

There was no evidence of drug use found in their blood or urine samples, according to the test results, Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo reported.

Rangpur Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) Deputy Commissioner Sanatan Chakraborty confirmed the development on Monday afternoon, saying the tests detected no signs of drug use.

The samples of the accused, 23-year-old Mugdha Das and 19-year-old Siddharth Das, both currently held in Rangpur Central Jail, were collected on Sunday following court approval for their dope tests.

“We received the dope-test report of Siddhartha Das and Mugdha Das at around 2:30 pm today. The report states that no traces of drugs were found in their bodies,” Rangpur Metropolitan DB Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanatan Chakraborty told Prothom Alo.

The negative dope test results have raised fresh questions over the credibility of the police’s initial findings surrounding the motive behind the killings.

Last week, a leading human rights organisation cast doubt on the Bangladeshi police’s preliminary account surrounding the gruesome killings of the Hindu family in Rangpur city, citing discrepancies between the official version and information provided by the victims’ relatives, and various media reports, local media reported.

Dhaka-based rights body 'Ain o Salish Kendra' (ASK) made the observations in a press release issued after a two-member fact-finding team from the organisation visited Rangpur on August 24–25, Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune reported.

The incident occurred on August 20, with police recovering the bodies of all four family members two days later, on the night of August 22.

The deceased were identified as retired Rangpur Zilla School teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, 65; his wife, Pritilata Chakraborty, 50; their daughter, Agami Chakraborty Prarthi, 23; and their son, Priyam Chakraborty, 12.

Bangladesh police on August 24 arrested the two young men in connection with the killing of the retired Hindu schoolteacher and three members of his family in Rangpur city.

Police said the duo planned and carried out the murders after the former Rangpur Zilla school teacher tried to prevent them from using yaba, a potent illicit methamphetamine-based drug, on the rooftop, according to local media reports.

Calling the killing of four family members an “extremely brutal incident”, ASK said the case had raised serious public concern. It urged a comprehensive and impartial probe to establish the motive, sequence of events and identities of all those involved.

Highlighting gaps between the police’s preliminary explanation and accounts from the victims’ relatives, local residents and the media, the rights body stressed that these questions must be addressed through a scientific analysis of physical, digital and forensic evidence, Dhaka Tribune reported.

Source: IANS

The post Bangladesh: Negative dope tests of accused deal major blow to police’s Rangpur murder theory appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Dhaka, Aug 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) India and Bangladesh on Monday discussed issues of mutual interest with the aim of advancing people-to-people cooperation. The discussions took place during a meeting between India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, and Adviser to Bangladesh's Prime Minister for the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, during their meeting in Dhaka.

"They discussed broad issues of mutual interest with the aim of advancing people-to-people cooperation," India's High Commission in Bangladesh posted on X.

On August 25, Trivedi met Bangladesh's Minister of Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, where the two sides discussed various aspects of bilateral economic and commercial cooperation and explored ways to deepen ties between the two countries.

"High Commissioner emphasised the important role of businesses and the private sector in steering the economic partnership for mutually beneficial trade and investment. A broad gamut of issues of mutual interest and mutual benefit was also discussed," the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh posted on X.

“The discussions also highlighted the importance of strong people-to-people ties as an enduring foundation of India-Bangladesh relations, and the need to further deepen connections between the business communities, professionals and people of the two countries,” it added.

On August 24, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav met his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Awal Mintoo on the sidelines of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar.

Following the meeting, Yadav, in a post on X, wrote, "Our discussions focused on mangrove conservation, land erosion, and transboundary monitoring of Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans. We also discussed the existing MoUs between India and Bangladesh, particularly those related to greening initiatives, and explored ways for their effective implementation going forward."

On August 21, President Droupadi Murmu sent a congratulatory message to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on assuming office as Bangladesh's President, the High Commission of India said.

"I am confident that your long experience of public life and political leadership heralds a successful tenure in service of the people of Bangladesh," President Murmu noted in the message, shared on X by the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh.

“India and Bangladesh share a unique relationship, rooted in a shared history of sacrifices, close cultural ties and warm bonds of friendship. In recent times, our bilateral ties have steadily expanded to several areas such as energy, technology, connectivity, youth affairs, health and education. I look forward to working with you further to strengthen the partnership between our two neighbouring countries,” the President stated in the message.

Source: IANS

The post India, Bangladesh discuss issues of mutual interest to advance people-to-people cooperation appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Gandhinagar, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The number of people linked to Gujarat reported missing or uncontactable after the flash floods in Nepal has risen to 26, with an Australian national from Ahmedabad added to the state emergency list in its latest update, officials said on Sunday.

The new entry is Arpan Kothari, a native of Sabarmati area in Ahmedabad and an Australian citizen, who was travelling with Kailash Journeys on a Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

According to the updated State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) record, Kothari was last seen on August 26 between around 7:20 and 8:30 a.m. at Timure in Nepal's Rasuwa district.

The record states that Kothari was staying at a lodge in Timure with five other Australian pilgrims and staff of Kailash Journeys before preparing to cross at Rasuwagadhi, the Nepal-Tibet border point.

The flash flood occurred at around 8:30 to 9 a.m., according to the information recorded by the authorities.

The record also provides a physical description to aid identification, including that Kothari is about 182 cm tall, medium-built, bald, with dark brown eyes, a trimmed beard and moustache and dark rectangular spectacles.

He was last known to be wearing a black or dark blue polo shirt, beige or tan cap, an orange/yellow tilak and multiple rudraksha necklaces.

The updated list includes people from Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Gandhinagar and Amreli, with several identified as foreign citizens or Indian-origin residents overseas.

Many were travelling towards the Kailash Mansarovar route through Kerung, Kyirong or the Rasuwa border corridor. The list also records cases where contact has been lost for 24 to 48 hours.

Roma Intwala, however, is noted as safe in Nepal, while Chauhan Kamtaprasad, known as Gomtibapu, was reported safe at a local ashram in Janakpur.

The latest update comes as rescue and recovery operations continue in Nepal following the flash floods in the Rasuwa region.

Reports on Sunday said that hundreds had died and thousands remained missing, while difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure continued to hamper rescue efforts.

Source: IANS

The post Gujarat’s Nepal flood missing tally rises to 26, Australian national added appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Kathmandu, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian tunnel rescue team on Sunday joined the Nepali Army's team to conduct search and rescue operations at hydropower tunnel sites in Chilime and Langtang area, the Indian Embassy in Nepal said.

"The tunnel rescue team from India worked with the Nepali Army's team to conduct search and rescue operations at hydropower tunnel sites in Chilime and Langtang area today. The team will continue to conduct search and rescue operations in close coordination with the Nepali Army," the Indian Embassy in Nepal said on social media platform X.

Meanwhile, a 19-member specialised forensics team from India began functioning in Kathmandu on Sunday.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this team will help augment the analysıs of DNA samples in Nepal for identification of mortal remains of the victims.

"Ambassador of India to Nepal (Naveen Srivastava) met and briefed the forensics team. Subsequently, the team had discussions with counterparts in Nepal Police's Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Kathmandu and the Forensics Department of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital," the statement said.

"The tunnel rescue operations team continued its work today and supplemented the search and rescue efforts of the Nepali Army at hydropower sites in Chilime and Langtang. The team was able to enter a tunnel near the Langtang hydroelectric project, and retrieve the mortal remains of one person, in spite of inclement weather. This team is continuing its support operations near the Langtang hydroelectric project," it added.

The Ministry also told that as of 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, 403 Indian nationals have safely crossed into Nepal from China, citing local government sources on the China side.

It also said that 500 Indian nationals still remain on the China side and noted that they are safe.

Earlier in the day, the fourth flight carrying assistance from India for people affected by the catastrophic floods in Nepal arrived in Kathmandu.

"The fourth flight carrying 11 tonnes of relief supplies has arrived in Nepal, with the materials handed over to the concerned authorities as part of ongoing support following the devastating floods," the MEA said.

The consignment includes a tunnel technical team equipped with search-and-rescue equipment, as well as a team of forensic experts for DNA analysis. The relief supplies include blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, plastic sheets and hygiene kits.

Source: IANS

The post Indian rescue team joins Nepali Army in search ops at tunnel sites appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Islamabad, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The suppression of the Aurat March and other women's rights movements in Pakistan is driven by several ill factors infesting the country's socio-political structure, and exposes public dissent, the role of patriarchy and religion in controlling women, and the ground reality of constitutional freedom in the country, according to a report.

Earlier this year, Pakistani police used force against 75-year-old activist Sheema Kermani and detained her, sparking criticism from across the spectrum. Her only crime was that she wanted the Pakistan government to grant permission for the Aurat March, which is an annual peaceful event on feminism in Pakistan, according to a report in European Times.

"If Pakistan’s one of the most respected artists and women’s rights campaigners was subjected to such ill-treatment, one can just imagine the plight of women activists and protesters in the country. In the name of maintaining law and order, the Pakistani agencies stooped to the level of preventing Kermani from holding a press conference," the report said.

Police justified their action by saying that Kermani was just detained for a couple of hours. It may seem like a local dispute; however, it showcases the shrinking space for dissent, civil activism, and freedom of speech in Pakistan, especially when that activism is led by women.

Many women activists have highlighted how government agencies use different means to harass them in the name of law and public order. Women activists face online threats and harassment, disinformation campaigns, legal complaints, bureaucratic hindrances in getting permission to hold rallies, and physical attacks by pro-patriarchal activists. In addition, the Pakistani government has been actively working to curb the women's rights movement.

Patriarchy, which is deeply entrenched in the socio-religious character of Pakistan, seems to be the primary reason for imposing restrictions on women's movement. Women's demands in Pakistan for equal inheritance rights, freedom from domestic violence, reproductive autonomy, and the right to occupy public spaces without restrictions go against the patriarchal social order of the country, especially the bureaucracy, political class, and security establishment, which is mainly dominated by men.

"The suppression of the Aurat March and broader women's rights movements arises from the interaction of several ill-factors infesting Pakistani socio-political structure. Aurat March has become one of Pakistan’s most contested civil society movements, and it is gaining traction in the country, no matter how hard authorities try to suppress it. Ultimately, it has exposed the limits of public dissent, the role of patriarchy and religion in controlling women, and the real face of constitutional freedoms in contemporary Pakistan," the European Times report said.

In May, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the detention of Aurat March organisers and volunteers outside the Karachi Press Club, where they had gathered to hold a press conference.

The rights body stated that preventing people from holding a press conference showcases an "increasingly repressive approach to governance", where dissent is considered a threat instead of a democratic necessity, Pakistani news network Geo News reported.

"HRCP strongly condemns the arrest of several organisers and volunteers of Aurat March from outside the Karachi Press Club, where they were scheduled to address a press conference. This incident is not isolated overreach but rather part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern: the systematic denial of public space to citizens seeking to articulate their rights," HRCP posted on X.

"The rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are constitutionally guaranteed. Preventing citizens, particularly women and marginalised groups, from even convening a press conference reflects an increasingly repressive approach to governance, where dissent is treated as a threat rather than a democratic necessity," it added.

Source: IANS

The post Suppression of Aurat March driven by ill-factors infesting Pakistan’s socio-political structure: Report appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) China portrays the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) as a world‑class clean‑energy frontier, but the rapid build‑out of hydropower, solar, wind, and ultra‑high‑voltage (UHV) transmission across the plateau is also creating a solid web of dual‑use infrastructure that can buttress long‑term military presence near the Indian border, according to an article.

Reliable power, roads and communications now knit together border villages, logistics hubs, and outposts in ways that serve both civilian development and the PRC’S military structure, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), turning Tibet into what one geospatial study calls China’s "high‑altitude power base", states the article by Italian journalist Marco Respinti in Bitter Winter.

Independent geospatial work has started to map how civilian energy projects intersect with military footprints. The Indian independent think tank Takshashila Institution’s “Geospatial Bulletin” shows that between 2013 and 2025, Tibet added several gigawatts of renewable capacity, with sharp jumps of 700 megawatts (MW) in 2023, 860 MW in 2024, and an estimated 2,600 MW in 2025, driven by just two large projects. Its analysis highlights solar farms near Shigatse, including in proximity to airport infrastructure and urban edges, and installations in Gar County whose location and grid links suggest a growing "energy‑security nexus" between solar plants and nearby military facilities.

In a related seminar sponsored by Delhi’s Institute of Chinese Studies, the same program notes Tibet as a "high‑altitude power base" where dense solar arrays, new hydropower and UHV lines sit close to key corridors and bases, providing dependable energy for sensors, logistics and sustained PLA operations in harsh conditions. A broader report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), based in Washington, D.C., describes Beijing’s approach as a "gray‑zone infrastructure strategy" on the Tibetan Plateau, using dams, roads, rail and digital systems to gain coercive leverage over neighbours like India and Nepal short of open conflict.

From an Indian perspective, this conjunction is troubling. As Bitter Winter has illustrated before, hydropower on transboundary rivers like the Yarlung Tsangpo raises familiar concerns about downstream water flows and the potential use of dams as "water bombs", while the transformation of the plateau into a vast energy‑industrial zone risks altering regional climate patterns and accelerating glacial melt. At the same time, the electrification of border villages, microgrids, and garrisons enables permanent settlements, all‑weather surveillance, and rapid mobilisation across sectors facing India’s Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Ladakh, even if the infrastructure is outwardly labelled "green development" by China.

Beijing’s renewable push in TAR is not a simple story of environmental shift; it is a coated strategy that fuses energy security, frontier consolidation and military logistics on one of the world’s most sensitive plateaus. Hydropower dams, solar farms, microgrids and UHV lines can legitimately light homes, power schools and lift incomes along the border—but they also supply the electricity for radars, communications, drones and barracks that anchor Beijing’s presence opposite India. The benefits that development brings thus become opportunities for further wrongdoings.

For New Delhi, Kathmandu, Thimphu, and Dhaka, the challenge is to recognise that what Beijing sells as a "clean energy miracle" in Tibet is simultaneously a long‑term hard‑power investment on the Himalayan crest line. Understanding the dual‑use character of these projects—through sustained satellite monitoring, open‑source analysis, and dialogue on transboundary river risks—will be crucial if India and South Asian countries are to craft a response that balances its own clean‑energy ambitions with the imperative of border security, the article observed.

Source: IANS

The post China beefing up military muscle under green energy cover in Tibet appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Seoul, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The South Korean government and Doosan Enerbility Co. on Sunday cancelled plans to send two helicopters to search for nine South Koreans missing in Nepal's devastating floods after local authorities declined their requests over safety issues, officials said.

Two helicopters had been scheduled to be used: one chartered by the government's rapid response team and the other chartered by Doosan Enerbility.

Flight authorisation was not granted by the Nepali government, however, putting them on standby until further notice, Yonhap News Agency reported.

On Saturday, a government-chartered helicopter carrying four rapid response team members flew twice from Kathmandu toward the flood site, becoming reportedly the only non-Nepali aircraft cleared to fly that day.

The helicopter reportedly failed to land, and the search was instead conducted visually, with footage from the flight analysed.

Six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three of Korea South-East Power Co. remain missing since the massive floods struck Nepal's north-central Himalayan border area Wednesday.

They had been working at a hydroelectric power plant construction site in the Rasuwa district when the floods hit the region.

Ten other Doosan workers who had been isolated at a different location have been moved to safety.

On Saturday, Seoul offered to deploy a Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT), a statutory emergency response unit, and is currently in talks with Nepali authorities on the matter, the Foreign Ministry said.

"We are fully preparing to dispatch a KDRT at any time once the Nepali side accepts our proposal," a ministry official said.

Through the KDRT, Seoul can send personnel and supplies for search and rescue, medical and other relief missions, but only at the request of the host country.

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said Friday the country needs special technical help to restore transportation and communication lines but not in search and rescue operations, according to a Reuters report.

"We understand that Nepal is prioritising military and police-led search and rescue operations due to the region's unique terrain and weather conditions, and will request foreign assistance when the need arises," the Seoul official said.

Source: IANS

The post South Korean helicopter search for nine missing nationals in Nepal floods cancelled appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) In the aftermath of the tragic flash floods in Nepal, that has so far claimed 734 lives, the Himalayan nation's former Forest and Environment Minister Madhav Prasad Chaulagain claimed that China had not issued any warning before the disaster struck the country.

The former Minister told NDTV that Nepal did not receive any timely alert from the Chinese side before a wall of ice, rock and mud tore through the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday morning, calling the withholding of data, "against humanity".

Rejecting Beijing's assertion that the collapse began on the territory of the Himalayan nation, the former Minister insisted that the disaster, originated in Tibet.

"Things are not so clear," he said while calling for greater transparency.

Chaulagain added that the disaster exposed a deeper planning failure.

Nepal's early-warning systems and environmental impact assessments for hydropower projects concentrated on glacial lakes. This tragedy involved ice-rock falls and the collapse of a glacier-fed river system that "was never envisioned", he said.

Meanwhile, a report by a noted international daily claimed that China is deleting videos showing the devastation caused by catastrophic flash floods and mudslides in Tibet.

A report by The Times of Israel claimed that the glacier collapse triggered a massive surge of mud, rock and water through the Lhende Khola and into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, causing extensive destruction along the Nepal-Tibet frontier.

According to the report, videos of the disaster began circulating on Chinese social media platforms within hours of the floods.

Security footage showed a huge wall of mud and debris crashing over buildings at Gyirong Port as people ran for their lives.

The report said the location and footage were subsequently verified by international media.

The report also cited Bhutanese journalist, who highlighted the removal of flood footage from Chinese platforms and stressed that the material was disaster footage rather than political protest or anti-government activity.

The August 26 tragedy has so far claimed 734 lives, while 2,498 people remain out of contact, including 589 foreigners, Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said.

Source: IANS

The post Ex-Nepal Minister blames China for not issuing alert ahead of devasting flash floods appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) A total of 149 Indian nationals have been rescued so far in Nepal after the devastating floods, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday

The MEA shared the list of all 149 Indian nationals who were rescued, as of 5.30 p.m. on Sunday, in a post on X.

Meanwhile, the 4th flight carrying 11 tonnes of relief assistance landed in Nepal, and relief material has been handed over.

"Standing with Nepal. The 4th flight carrying 11 tonnes of relief assistance landed in Nepal, and relief material has been handed over. It consists of a tunnel technical contingent along with equipment for search and rescue operations; a team of forensics experts for DNA analysis and relief supplies, including blankets, sleeping bags, tarpaulin, plastic sheets and hygiene kits," the MEA posted on X.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said that 16 trucks carrying equipment for a 230 feet Single Lane Modular Steel Bridge have reached Nepal.

"Equipment for installation of seven more Bailey bridges will be supplied soon. Technical teams for their installation are expected to reach shortly. So far, a total of 68.5 tonnes of relief material comprising essential medicines, portable generator sets, food packets, water purification tablets and technical equipment have been airlifted to Kathmandu," he said on X.

Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on Sunday met members of the Indian Forensic Team deployed in Nepal to assist in identifying the mortal remains of victims of the devastating flash floods and reiterated that India will continue to strongly support Nepal's ongoing rescue and relief operations.

"Ambassador Naveen Srivastava met members of the Indian Forensic Team deployed to Nepal. The team will work alongside their Nepali counterparts in analysing DNA samples to assist in identifying the mortal remains of the victims of the recent flash floods," the MEA stated on X.

Source: IANS

The post 149 Indian Nationals rescued in Nepal after floods appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) People from West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Kerala, who were rescued from flood-ravaged Nepal, on Sunday, considered themselves lucky for being able to return home, while recounting their near-death experiences following the devastating flash floods in the Himalayan nation.

After returning home in West Bengal's Basirhat, Anukul Poddar recalled that he, along with a tourist group, was travelling from Kathmandu to Rasuwa, on the Nepal-China border, on the day of the disaster.

"That day, we left our hotel in Kathmandu at 6:30 a.m in two tourist buses. After about three to four hours, both vehicles stopped. Later, the driver told us that a landslide warning had been issued. The administration had informed the drivers, and they could not proceed further...Sitting in the vehicle, we saw schoolchildren crowding the road as schools had been closed. Many were running uphill," he told IANS.

"Later, the drivers took us to a higher place on the hill. All we could see was a white, cloud-like mass flowing down the river. We had never witnessed anything like it. We stood on the hill for a while and watched the mass gradually descend. After some time, the driver said we had to turn back; otherwise we would not be able to return if the road got blocked. The driver then quickly took us back to the hotel in Kathmandu."

After deboarding from a train at a railway station in Nagpur, a woman thanked the state government for facilitating her family's return from the disaster-stricken country.

"We went to Nepal for a trip; the situation there was very difficult...I am grateful to the Maharashtra government for making it possible for us to return to the city by using its links in Nepal. We are extremely thankful to (Chief Minister) Devendra Fadnavis ji," she told IANS while maintaining that the family was able to complete their tour.

Calling herself and her family members lucky for being able to escape the tragedy, she recounted: "A bus got swept away from the same place through which our bus had passed fifteen minutes earlier. All of us were scared since we did not know what to do."

In Kerala's Kasaragod, five members of a 36-member Malayali group returned home safely after being stranded in Nepal.

Talking to IANS, a rescued local said: "On August 26, we were on our way to the Manakamana Temple (in Gorkha district) from Kathmandu. The driver stopped the bus while on the way, saying that there had been an accident. While waiting inside the bus, we saw passengers getting down from vehicles beside us and running to the lower side of the road."

Recounting the horror, he described: "So we followed them and then saw from a distance that parts of buildings, trees, people and smaller vehicles were being swept away into the river...locals said that a dam had breached upstream. Only later, we got to know from social media that a flash flood had struck the area."

"In the afternoon, we diverted the bus into a forest area and travelled around 60 kilometres into the forest...our vehicle was breaking down repeatedly. At that time, we thought that we would not be able to go back home," he said.

Source: IANS

The post ‘Saw people, vehicles being swept away… escaped by 15 minutes’: Indians returning from flood-hit Nepal narrate their close shaves appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Islamabad, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Leading international human rights organisation Amnesty International has urged Pakistani authorities to immediately release Kashmir poet and journalist Ahmad Farhad and refrain from coercive actions that curtail his right to freedom of expression.

In a statement, Amnesty International said that Farhad has been kept under administrative detention in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's (PoK) Bagh since June 20. Farhad's arbitrary detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance comes as part of a massive crackdown on the right to peaceful assembly in PoK, according to Amnesty, which also claimed that Pakistani authorities have been placing pressure on Ahmed Farhad to record statements denouncing protests taking place in PoK.

"He is currently on a hunger strike to protest his unlawful detention. Amnesty calls on the Pakistani authorities to immediately release Ahmed and refrain from coercive tactics which curtail his right to freedom of expression," Amnesty said.

Last month, international human rights organisation Ireland-based rights group Front Line Defenders urged the Pakistani authorities to immediately release Farhad and withdraw all charges against him, alleging that he is being targeted for his legitimate reporting and human rights work in PoK.

Front Line Defenders strongly condemned the repression in PoK, saying the crackdown is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of violence against individuals who speak out against authorities and seek to end impunity for human rights violations.

The organisation said that journalists such as Farhad are especially vulnerable as they challenge state-sponsored misinformation and report independently from the ground.

According to Front Line Defenders, the Pakistani police detained Farhad on June 20 in Bagh city of PoK while he was returning home after covering the ongoing Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) protest in Rawalakot. It added that he has since been held at the Bagh city police station with no legal grounds or a formal arrest warrant.

The rights body further said that Farhad reports on social justice issues, human rights violations, and the suppression of peaceful people’s movements for rights and justice in PoK.

"He has faced violent reprisals as a result of his work, including an abduction which later turned into an arrest in 2024, as well as criminalisation and stigmatisation by state authorities," it said.

It said that Farhad used his media platform to report on the protest movement launched by the JAAC in PoK, which has “faced a disproportionate use of force and repression” by Pakistani authorities.

"Thousands of protesters were reportedly arrested under the regressive Section 3, Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, which permits preventive detention with limited recourse to judicial review," the rights body noted.

Source: IANS

The post Rights group urges Pakistani authorities to release PoK journalist Ahmad Farhad appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Kathmandu, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) As rescue teams race against time to save any possible life amid the increasing death toll following devastating flash floods in Nepal, a relative of an affected family said four members, along with their house, were swept away in seconds, with his cousin being the sole survivor.

In Nuwakot district, Tularam Gurmir consoled his emotional cousin, the only surviving member of the family, while recounting the horrors of the tragedy.

Speaking to IANS, he said: "He is the son of my mother's sister. His entire family was swept away. Everyone in the family, whoever was there, all were swept away...his mother, father, sister, sister's son, all were swept away...only he got saved by just a minute, because he had stepped out to have tea."

"As soon as he saw the approaching landslide, he rushed to alert the family, but it was too late. He could not save them," the young local added.

Gurmir said that his brother is not in a condition to speak. "From their house to livelihood, everything related to the family has been swept away," he added.

Meanwhile, family members of flood victims gathered at the Postmortem Block of Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, in Kathmandu.

Posters bearing information about the victims were displayed at the hospital morgue as families awaited updates.

Talking to IANS, a family member of a victim said: "The security told us to wait for some time, and then we'll just identify the dead body and take it for the ritual procedure."

The brother of a missing army officer, who came from Janakpur district, showed the latter's picture as he waited outside the hospital's morgue.

A relative of another missing person told IANS that the family has no clue whether he is dead or alive.

"We last spoke to him at around 8:45 am (on Wednesday). After that, there was no contact...Nothing has been found yet," he said.

He added: "Even now, we have been calling (to know about any update), but there is no contact. They (authorities) are saying that they are trying (to gather information). Whether he is alive or dead, we have no contact or information at all."

Meanwhile, Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said the massive flood on August 26 has so far claimed 734 lives, while 2,498 people remain out of contact, including 589 foreigners.

Source: IANS

The post ‘Entire family got swept away, cousin saved by a whisker’: Kin of Nepal flash flood victims recounts tragedy appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Nuwakot (Nepal), Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid ongoing rescue and relief operations following the devastating flash floods, Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal on Sunday said the government was "equally committed" to ensuring the safety of foreign nationals, at par with the citizens of the Himalayan Nation.

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said that so far 675 bodies had been recovered from mudslide-hit areas, with 2,498 people still missing.

Khanal was in the Trishuli area of Nepal's Nuwakot district, one of the worst-hit regions, to oversee rescue operations.

Speaking to IANS, he referred to the tragedy as "one of the largest national disasters that Nepal has experienced in recent memory".

"The Prime Minister (Balendra Shah) has asked all agencies to come together for all possible support...We are trying to do everything possible for the rescue of those affected in various regions," he added.

Moreover, Shisir Khanal said: "As of yesterday, over 400 people have been rescued, and over 200 of them were foreign nationals."

Mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's telephonic conversation with his Nepalese counterpart, Khanal expressed gratitude to India for extending "all the possible help".

"I also spoke to my (Indian) counterpart S. Jaishankar regarding our needs. The Indian government has already sent four aircraft with relief supplies and even experts to support our rescue efforts. We are extremely grateful to India for the active support," he said.

Further, the Foreign Minister asserted that the Nepal government "is equally committed to ensuring the safety and security of foreign nationals, as much as Nepali nationals".

"We have a dedicated helpline at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially for foreign nationals to seek help," he added.

A total of 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries have been identified as unaccounted for after a mudslide struck Gyirong Port on the Tibet-Nepal border in Xizang on August 26, local authorities said on Sunday.

Officials said that 49 Indians are among the 261 missing foreigners.

The figure was announced at a press conference held by the information office of the regional government in Nepal, following a joint search and cross-checking of information by foreign affairs, public security, culture and tourism, and emergency management authorities.

Source: IANS

The post Committed to ensuring safety of foreign nationals: Nepal Minister Shisir Khanal appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Sixteen Keralites, including a 14-member group from Kochi, have returned home safely from Nepal, while 45 travellers have been confirmed safe across Nepal and Indian transit locations, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said.

He added on Saturday evening that arrangements are underway to bring the remaining travellers back home.

Among those who have returned are Sruthi Shikhamani of Kakkanad and Rineeth Mohan of Piravom, Satheesan said in a social media post on X.

"Seven people are still to be contacted, including four Australian citizens of Kerala origin. Their details are being coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs. Under the directions of the Chief Minister's Office, NORKA Roots and the Delhi NRK Development Office are continuing to facilitate transit and return travel arrangements for those reaching India."

The update comes amid continuing concern over Keralites caught up in the devastating flash floods and glacial avalanche along the Nepal-Tibet border, which disrupted travel through the Himalayan region.

Meanwhile, architect and Padma Shri awardee G. Shankar, whose cancelled Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage put him on the same route days before the disaster, issued another social media post on Saturday thanking people for their concern and urging caution.

"Wading through an ocean of love, affection and care," Shankar wrote, referring to the 5.5 lakh views and thousands of messages and calls his earlier social media post had received.

"Keep Nepal in your thoughts. Tread on with soft steps. For disasters are just beneath your feet," he said.

Shankar had been scheduled to undertake the pilgrimage with the Mohanji Foundation. His itinerary included Kathmandu, Manasarovar, Saga for acclimatisation and then Darchen.

However, he and his wife cancelled the trip on August 21 after their son strongly urged them not to travel.

The decision proved critical as the disaster struck the route shortly afterwards.

Shankar said he hoped to return to the Himalayas "with care, caution and hope", while thanking spiritual teacher Mohanji, writer Asha Menon and writer T. Padmanabhan for reaching out to him.

Source: IANS

The post 16 Keralites return safely from Nepal, says CM Satheeesan appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Mumbai, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday that the government agencies are working round-the-clock to assist and evacuate tourists and residents from the state stranded in Nepal following severe flooding.

He has issued strict instructions to authorities to maintain high vigilance and coordinate travel logistics to ensure the safe return of all affected individuals to their hometowns.

Current data indicates that 404 citizens from the state are verified safe, while 338 individuals have been successfully contacted.

According to official updates, 41 people returned from Nepal's Saga on Saturday, while 106 citizens are scheduled to arrive in Nagpur at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Nearly 143 residents are currently on their way to the state.

In response to the crisis, helpline numbers have been launched, and the 24/7 Disaster Management Control Room at the Mantralaya is actively coordinating relief and assistance operations.

A group of 45 tourists from Nashik, Pune, Mumbai, and Ahilyanagar -- who travelled to Nepal via a tour operator based in Ahilyanagar's Sangamner -- have safely re-entered Indian territory.

The group was in Nepal's Chitwan during the flood outbreak.

"Due to road closures heading toward Kathmandu, they were re-routed through Lumbini in Nepal, and are expected to reach Ayodhya on Saturday. Further travel arrangements will follow state directives," the government statement said.

Under the direction of Maharashtra Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, the state government and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) are actively providing necessary relief.

The Ministry of External Affairs released a list late on August 28 detailing 149 Indian tourists who safely entered Nepal from China.

State officials have been instructed to verify and compile details of residents belonging to Maharashtra districts to facilitate their safe return.

Following the immediate intervention of CM Fadnavis, buses and necessary transport services have been deployed to bring the tourists back.

A group of 106 individuals from Nagpur began their journey home today via Bihar, the statement said.

Authorities are tracking information regarding eight tourists from Borivali and Andheri currently stranded in Nepal. Efforts to reach Laxminarayan Acharya from Andheri and others in this group via mobile network have faced connectivity disruptions.

Officials remain in active communication with their relatives in Mumbai while continuing rescue and contact efforts.

Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Emergency Operations Centre (BMC EOC) reported receiving no distress calls regarding residents from Mumbai City or Mumbai Suburban districts so far.

Source: IANS

The post 404 citizens from Maha safe, 338 contacted: CM Fadnavis directs swift rescue relief for stranded tourists in Nepal appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Gandhinagar, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) A 10-member team from Gujarat's National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) has left for Nepal to assist in identifying people who died in the flash floods, as the scale of the disaster leaves families across India waiting for information about missing relatives.

The team, led by Bhargav Patel, Head of NFSU's Centre of Excellence in DNA Forensics, will carry out Disaster Victim Identification (DVI), including DNA sample matching.

It will work under the joint supervision of the Union Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs.

The deployment comes as Nepal continues a large-scale search and recovery operation following the flash floods that struck central Nepal and the Nepal-Tibet border region on August 26.

By Saturday, Nepal's death toll had risen to 669, while nearly 2,000 people were still reported missing.

Thousands of people have been rescued or evacuated, although damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure have complicated access to affected areas.

The disaster has also affected a large number of Indian nationals.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in its August 28 briefing that efforts are continuing to locate Indian citizens affected by the floods and coordinate their evacuation and return.

The number of Gujarat-linked people reported missing at 25, including several overseas citizens.

The identification of victims has emerged as a major challenge, with many families still awaiting confirmation about relatives who have not been traced.

Nepal authorities have been maintaining lists of rescued and missing people, while identification and recovery operations continue in the affected districts.

"The team would provide families of missing people with complete details about their relatives once the identification process is completed. Experts would collect and match DNA samples from recovered remains with samples from relatives, following established DVI procedures," the NFSU said.

The university cited its experience following the AI-171 aircraft crash on June 12 last year, when DNA matching of the deceased was completed within 10 days.

NFSU also said forensic experts from the university have been working with the US Department of Defense to help locate American soldiers who went missing in India during World War II, with the mortal remains of three soldiers recovered through the effort.

NFSU has academic and specialist capabilities in human identification and disaster victim identification.

Source: IANS

The post Gujarat’s NFSU sends 10-member forensic team to Nepal to identify flood victims appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Kathmandu, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) A specialised technical team from India has begun on-site reconnaissance of hydropower tunnels in Nepal’s flash flood-affected areas to facilitate the search and rescue of people stranded inside the tunnels, the Indian Embassy in Nepal said on Saturday.

India sent an 11-member rescue team comprising doctors, paramedics and personnel specialising in tunnel rescue operations at Nepal's request.

The specialised technical team reached the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district, where rescue efforts are underway for people believed to be trapped inside a tunnel following the flash flood.

According to Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Indian team planned to conduct an initial aerial reconnaissance of the Chilime and Langtang areas by helicopter before proceeding with further rescue operations as required.

A joint team of 82 Nepali security personnel, including 62 members of the Nepali Army and 20 personnel from the Armed Police Force Nepal and Nepal Police, has been continuously deployed since Friday night to clear the tunnel entrance and accelerate the search operation, the PMO said.

“The rescue efforts have become highly challenging due to the adverse weather conditions prevailing in the area,” the PMO said in a statement.

With the rescue operation progressing slowly due to the limitations of local expertise, Nepal sought cooperation from India and China.

The Embassy said India continues to support Nepal’s ongoing relief and rescue efforts and remains engaged with Nepali authorities in the search and rescue of Indian nationals affected by the flash floods.

The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), an association representing the country’s private power producers, said as many as 934 people associated with 11 hydropower projects in Nepal’s flood-affected Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts remain out of contact.

According to the association, 730 people associated with six hydropower projects in Rasuwa and 204 people linked to five projects in Nuwakot remain out of contact following the devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River on August 26. The floods caused extensive damage to hydropower projects and other infrastructure in the two districts.

According to IPPAN, the August 26 floods affected 13 hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, with a combined installed capacity of 675.6 MW.

Meanwhile, the First Secretary (Commerce) at the Embassy of India met Indian workers recently rescued from the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project to ascertain their safety and well-being, the Embassy said.

The flash flood caused extensive damage to infrastructure and disrupted hydropower projects and access routes in the affected areas, prompting Nepal and India to intensify search, rescue and relief operations.

Source: IANS

The post Nepal: Indian technical team conducts reconnaissance for tunnel rescue operations appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday stated that four more Indian nationals were rescued from a hydropower project in Nepal's Rasuwa, bringing the total number of rescued Indian nationals to 88.

The ministry confirmed that the rescued individuals are Ripu Kumar, Chaneshwar Narzary, Kripa Shankar and Mohammed Minhajuddin.

The MEA also stated that 120 Indian nationals crossed into Nepal from China on Saturday.

It mentioned that 287 Indian nationals still remain missing and 128 persons of Indian origin also remain missing as of 5 pm on Saturday.

A six-member forensic experts team from India is expected to reach Kathmandu on Saturday to assist in the analysis of DNA samples for identification of mortal remains.

“A specialised technical team for tunnel rescue reconnaissance reached Kathmandu yesterday and started working from today to assist in tunnel rescue in the impacted area. Based on their recommendation, a specialised tunnel rescue team from India with equipment is expected to reach Nepal today,” MEA stated.

Meanwhile, Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Saturday expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu for her concern and the support extended by the government of India following the devastating flash floods in Nepal that left hundreds dead and caused widespread destruction.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Nepal, I extend our deepest gratitude to Your Excellency Smt Droupadi Murmu for your kind concern and also for the generous support and solidarity extended by your government following the recent calamity in Nepal,” the Office of the President of Nepal posted on X.

Paudel also conveyed condolences over the tragic loss of Indian lives in the aftermath of the catastrophic flood on Wednesday.

“We also offer our heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Government and the people of India for the tragic loss of Indian lives in the disaster of August 26, 2026," he stated.

–IANS

ksk/as

Source: IANS

The post Four more Indian nationals rescued in Nepal, 120 cross safely from China: MEA appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Kathmandu, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nepal is in close communication and coordination with its immediate neighbours and the international community following the devastating floods that have left several foreign nationals missing, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said on Saturday.

Addressing mediapersons in Kathmandu, Khanal said the Nepali government had established a dedicated Emergency Control Room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate information and assistance related to foreign nationals affected by the disaster.

“As many foreign nationals are also missing, a dedicated Emergency Control Room has been established at the Ministry,” Khanal said.

He said Nepal’s diplomatic missions abroad are constantly sharing and updating verified information while facilitating communication with the families of those affected.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), at least 517 foreign nationals remain missing, while India’s Ministry of External Affairs has reported that at least 288 Indian nationals are out of contact.

The Foreign Minister said Nepal’s diplomatic missions abroad have also been extending necessary assistance for the identification and repatriation of foreign nationals.

Nepal has sought specialised assistance from its friendly neighbours to strengthen search-and-rescue operations in areas severely affected by the floods, including efforts to rescue people trapped inside tunnels, Khanal said.

“Nepal has requested specific technical support in opening tunnels where people may be trapped, using technologies to locate survivors in affected areas, conducting rapid forensic and DNA analysis, and providing mortuary facilities for the safe preservation of recovered bodies,” he said.

According to Khanal, an 11-member specialised technical reconnaissance team from India has been mobilised to support tunnel rescue operations.

The Chinese Embassy in Nepal has also announced on social media that Chinese tunnel experts have arrived in Nepal to support rescue and relief efforts. The embassy also shared a video showing the experts arriving by helicopter.

Khanal expressed gratitude to Nepal’s friends and international partners for their solidarity, goodwill and generous offers of assistance during the crisis.

“From India, we have already received more than 57 tonnes of relief materials,” he said.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also announced on Saturday on social media that a third flight carrying assistance from India had arrived in Kathmandu.

“Relief supplies and an 11-member medical and tunnel rescue team are now on the ground,” Jaishankar said.

According to Khanal, essential relief items were also being received from China, Japan, Australia and other partner countries.

“As relief operations continue, further assessments are being made and we will reach out to our neighbours and international partners for additional assistance and support as needed,” Khanal said.

He also said Nepal could seek international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure and other assets damaged by the devastating floods.

Khanal said a detailed assessment of the damage and needs was currently underway following extensive destruction of critical infrastructure, houses, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities.

“A detailed assessment of the needs is currently underway, and a report will be ready soon,” he said.

Source: IANS

The post Already received more than 57 tonnes of relief material from India: Nepal FM appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Gandhinagar, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least 25 people linked to Gujarat have been reported missing or uncontactable following the devastating flash floods along Nepal's Bhote Koshi river near the Nepal-China border, according to the latest information compiled by the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) on Saturday.

The list includes residents and people with roots in Ahmedabad, Anand, Amreli, Kheda, Rajkot, Surat and Valsad, besides several overseas citizens of Indian origin from the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

The information shows that families have been trying to establish contact with relatives after communications were disrupted in the mountainous border region.

Most were travelling towards Kailash Mansarovar through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung corridor when communications were disrupted.

Among those listed are Kinnari and Mihir Patel of Vadodara, travelling with Richa Tours on August 23; Bimalkumar Patel and Jaimina Patel of Anand, who left on August 16 with Namaste Nepal Trekking and Research Hub; and Ashok Kapadi of Ahmedabad, who travelled on August 25 with Samrat Tours and Travels and was last contacted at about 8:30 a.m. near the China-border immigration centre.

The list also names Jay Kotecha and Roma Intwala in connection with the Friendship Bridge-Bhote Koshi River area. Intwala has subsequently been reported safe in Nepal.

Three people travelling from Ahmedabad through Richa Tours -- Paresh Patel, Jyoti Patel and Minaxi Ramani -- were last contacted at about 8:10 a.m. on August 26, with no contact established in the following 24 hours.

The records identify all three as US residents, with native links to Ahmedabad.

The list further includes Dinesh Patel, Umesh Patel, Akansha Patel, Ishan Patel and Shilpa Patel, among others, with American, Canadian and Australian citizenship noted against several names.

Two people from Anand, Padma Patel and Jagdish Patel, were reported missing after reaching Delhi on August 25 for their onward Kailash Mansarovar journey.

US citizen Bina Parikh, an NRI based in New York with an Indian address in Usmanpura area of Ahmedabad, is also listed; her last known location was the Nepal-Tibet/Kailash approach corridor along the Bhote Koshi river.

The list records two further cases: Poonam Thakkar, a US-Canadian dual citizen from Ahmedabad now residing in Illinois, and Bavika Ramjee, a South African citizen linked to Surat.

As of Saturday, authorities said that death toll has risen to 616 and many people remained missing after the floods. It added that search, rescue and relief operations were continuing.

The disaster struck the key Rasuwa-Rasuwagadhi corridor, an important route for pilgrims travelling towards Kailash Mansarovar, while roads, bridges and communications infrastructure were badly damaged.

Source: IANS

The post Nepal flash floods: 25 from Gujarat, including overseas citizens, remain uncontactable appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Dhaka, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) As Bangladesh confronts resurgence of terror outfits, Neo-JMB - an Islamic State-inspired offshoot of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh - has re-emerged in the South Asian nation amid a string of recent bomb recoveries, including multiple pressure-cooker devices, by the law enforcement agencies.

The police operation has resulted in the arrests of suspected operatives — among them a former army soldier as well as a 16-year-old — and alleged plans to unleash sabotage in and around Dhaka, a report has stated.

Citing partial data compiled by the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management (ICM), the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) revealed that at least five people have been arrested for alleged links to Neo-JMB this year.

According to the SATP report, Neo-JMB operative Mohammad Arif was arrested in the Savar area of Dhaka on August 11. The following day, a pressure-cooker bomb wrapped in black tape was recovered from an open field beside a mosque in Savar.

“Arif’s arrest from Hemayetpur in Savar, in possession of several arms and ammunition, including five GI-pipe bombs, three knife-like bombs and bomb-making materials, is significant. During interrogation, investigators discovered that the bombs used tri-acetone triperoxide (TATP), a highly sensitive explosive that can detonate through heat, friction, impact or movement. Arif reportedly told investigators that the group used the Protected Text or PT website for communication and the Element app for financial transactions,” the report detailed.

The report cited an unnamed Bangladesh Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) source, stating that Arif and other suspects linked to recent incidents exhibited common movement patterns. They often carried backpacks containing bombs, weapons, knives, and machetes and attacked security personnel when searched before fleeing the area.

Neo-JMB operatives across Bangladesh reflect a disturbing demographic mix, ranging from former Army personnel and young recruits to minors who are getting easily radicalised by the group’s ideology, the report mentioned.

“In one case, on April 2, 2026, a 16-year-old boy from Habiganj Sadar Upazila was arrested. The boy (identity withheld) had been in regular contact with two dismissed Army personnel. The CTTC unit, after seizing his phone, discovered evidence of his ties with Neo-JMB and his presence at the clandestine meeting at Zia Udyan. Court documents described the boy as ‘an IS-ideology follower/Neo-JMB member’," it highlighted.

Warning that recent incidents and developments across Bangladesh cannot be ignored, the report said sustained prevention and counter-radicalisation efforts will be crucial to prevent the terrorist network from emerging as a major renewed threat.

“This is particularly urgent in light of a July 1, 2026, report, which revealed that at least 311 operatives of various banned militant organisations remained absconding, including 16 Neo-JMB cadres, 185 JMB cadres, 83 cadres of Ansar Al Islam, 16 cadres of HuJI-B, nine cadres of Allahar Dal, one cadre of Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya (JAFHS), and one cadre of Imam Mahmuder Kafela, according to the Police’s specialised Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU),” it noted.

The convergence of terrorist networks coupled with an alarming demography of extremists and terrorists, the report said, adds multiple layers to the deepening threat confronting Bangladesh.

Source: IANS

The post Neo-JMB group resurfaces in Bangladesh, raising fresh terror threat appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Kathmandu, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Relatives of people missing in the devastating flash floods in Nepal have been putting up posters outside the emergency gate of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, desperately searching for information about their loved ones.

The hospital administration has displayed photos of recovered bodies at the gate of the post-mortem block to help families identify the deceased, with officials updating the photos every hour.

The brother of a man who went missing in the floods, speaking to IANS, said, "This is my brother, who is still missing in Rasuwa. No information about him has been received yet. The last time I spoke to him was two days before the flood."

Another man, while showing photos of his three brothers, said, "These are all my brothers; they are all drivers. They were taking their vehicle to China. The flood struck while they were on their way, and they went missing."

Another survivor also thanked the rescue officials for their work and said, "In Rasuwa, the Nepal government and our rescue team are continuously engaged in safely evacuating people and searching for them, but so far, many people have not been located."

Recalling the moment the disaster struck, another local said, "We were over there at the Customs Department. I was sleeping in the vehicle. After that, when I went to the market to have tea, the glacier burst occurred. As soon as I heard the warning, I ran uphill. However, many were trapped there; all of them are now missing."

Another man spoke about his missing brother-in-law, saying, "My brother-in-law, that is, my wife's brother, was working in a mess near the Rasuwa border. We got news of a flood coming from there. He had called and told us that a flood had hit there and everyone was in distress. About an hour later, when we called him, his phone was switched off."

A woman searching for a missing family member said, "My elder brother's grandson is missing. He had gone to the border to load a vehicle. His vehicle had been loaded, and he was about to leave from there. But just about five metres away, he met with an accident. Since then, up to now, there has been no contact with him."

Meanwhile, in Nuwakot, family members of people who went missing in the flash floods have also gathered outside an Army camp, carrying photos of their loved ones and waiting anxiously for any information about their whereabouts.

With rescue and search operations continuing in the flood-hit areas, families across the affected districts remain hopeful of receiving information about those still missing, while authorities continue efforts to trace people and identify bodies recovered from the disaster.

Source: IANS

The post Families put up posters outside Kathmandu hospital in hope of finding their loved ones appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) A third special flight carrying over 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance along with a team of doctors and paramedics departed New Delhi for Kathmandu, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday as India ramped up efforts to help the neighbouring Himalayan nation following Wednesday's devastating flash floods.

“A third flight carrying 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance has departed for Kathmandu. The assistance includes portable generator sets, dignity kits, food packets and water purification tablets. An 11-member team of doctors, paramedics and a Recce team for Tunnel rescue operations is also on board. India continues to support Nepal’s ongoing relief & rescue efforts,” External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar stated on X.

Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar received 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who arrived at the Delhi airport from Kathmandu after being rescued from the floods.

“I welcomed a group comprising 21 tourists from Tamil Nadu who were rescued from the floods that occurred in Nepal. I was deeply moved upon hearing their experiences firsthand. I express my gratitude to the Nepali Army and the government of that country for carrying out this rescue operation. I commend the efforts of the Indian Embassy in Nepal in smoothly coordinating their return to India,” EAM Jaishankar stated on X.

The 21 Indian nationals were part of the groups that had travelled for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through various travel agents.

India continues to send further assistance to Nepal, including mobilising Bailey bridges to assist in rescue and relief efforts. New Delhi has also set up a control room here in the Ministry of External Affairs which is functioning round the clock.

The MEA officials are also in touch with the state governments from where people have travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Addressing a bi-weekly press briefing in New Delhi on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that 84 Indian nationals, including 63 Indian nationals who were working at the Trishuli-1 hydropower project, have been rescued so far. He further stated that 96 Indian nationals who were stranded on the Chinese side have safely crossed into Nepal by land.

–IANS

ksk/as

Source: IANS

The post India dispatches team of doctors and paramedics to flood-hit Nepal appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Srinagar, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Jammu and Kashmir's senior religious leader and chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Friday termed the Nepal tragedy a warning, as he called for a balance between development & environmental preservation.

Delivering the Friday congregational sermon at the historic Jama Masjid in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar, he said that the devastation being witnessed in Nepal and across the Himalayan region should deeply concern all of us, as these are not isolated events.

"They are warnings of how vulnerable our mountain ecosystems have become as glaciers collapse."

“We express our heartfelt solidarity with the people of Nepal at this difficult time, and pray for those who have lost their lives, for the safety and early recovery of the many people who remain missing, and for strength and relief for all those affected," the Mirwaiz said.

He noted that Jammu and Kashmir is part of the same fragile Himalayan belt. “We are already seeing more intense rainfall, cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides. Climate change is undoubtedly a major factor, but we must also ask whether our own pattern of development is making the situation more dangerous.”

The Mirwaiz said that gifted with the natural beauty of mountains, lakes and rivers, Kashmir attracts tourists and travellers and is a source of sustenance to a large population here.

"But the manner in which we are recklessly exploiting this ecology for commerce and in the name of development is very worrying," he said, warning that mountains are being cut and blasted for roads, trees are being felled, hotels and buildings are coming up in ecologically sensitive areas, and natural drainage channels are being disturbed.

“If this continues without proper scientific and environmental safeguards, we are creating conditions for far greater disasters in the future."

The Mirwaiz said equally worrying is the continued encroachment of wetlands, lakes, and flood channels.

"I appeal to people not to occupy or build upon these areas. Wetlands are not unused land; they are natural buffers that absorb excess water and protect human settlements," he highlighted.

Referring to the Dal Lake here, the Mirwaiz said: "We have only to look at the condition of our own Dal Lake to understand how prolonged encroachment, construction and environmental neglect can damage a precious natural system. It is shrinking day by day while we look the other way as if it’s no concern of ours."

Quoting the Holy Qur’an, he said: "And do not cause corruption on the earth after it has been set in order."

The Mirwaiz said this is therefore a matter of serious collective responsibility.

“Authorities, planners, businesses, and citizens all have to recognise that in a fragile Himalayan region development for infrastructure and tourism carries serious consequences. We have to strike a balance between ecological preservation and human intervention in the name of progress."

"The tragedy in Nepal must be seen as a warning close to home. We too live in the Himalayas. If we continue to disturb the natural balance of our mountains, forests, wetlands and waterways, the consequences may one day be irreversible," he said.

The Mirwaiz stressed that protecting our environment today is not merely about conservation, but "about protecting lives, homes and the future of our children".

Source: IANS

The post Nepal tragedy is a warning, need to balance development & environmental preservation, says Mirwaiz Umar appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) If China had issued timely and transparent warnings, it "could have significantly mitigated the devastation" caused in Nepal due to the massive flash floods, defence expert Major General P.K. Sehgal (Retd.) said on Friday.

His remark comes as the death toll from the devastating floods in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi region rose to 469, with 977 people still out of contact, according to the latest update released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Friday.

Speaking to IANS, Major Gen Sehgal (retd) said: "There is absolutely no doubt that China could have significantly mitigated the damage caused due to the catastrophe in Nepal, had it issued timely and transparent early warnings --which it failed to provide."

"Secondly, on social media, the people of Nepal are openly holding China responsible because due to heavy Chinese construction, the local ecology -- which is already extremely fragile -- (has been severely disturbed)," he added.

The Army veteran claimed that China's own engineers had advised against large-scale construction, building dams, river diversion projects, tunnelling, and cutting new roads in these fragile zones, warning that it would be detrimental.

"Chinese decision-makers raised concerns as well, but the country's establishment disregarded them," he said.

Maj Gen Sehgal (retd) further stated: "As far as Nepal's government is concerned, it has maintained a hushed silence as the nation gets large-scale equipment and money from China."

The floods in the Himalayan nation, believed to have been triggered by an avalanche on a transboundary river between Nepal and China upstream of the Bhote Koshi River, have left a trail of destruction along the riverbanks downstream, sweeping away several human settlements, roads, hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure, among other facilities.

According to the NDRRMA, 469 bodies have been recovered from various districts, with the highest number — 178 bodies — recovered in Chitwan district, followed by 110 in Nawalparasi East. Likewise, 44 bodies were recovered in Gorkha, 37 in Nuwakot, 28 in Tanahun, 27 in Nawalparasi West, 23 in Dhading and 12 in Rasuwa, the authority said.

Of the 977 people out of contact, 517 are foreign nationals. The United States said that approximately 90 Americans may have been affected by the floods in Nepal, while China said that nearly 100 Chinese nationals remain missing on the Nepali side following Wednesday's mudslide.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Friday received 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who arrived at the Delhi airport from Kathmandu after being rescued from the devastating floods.

Source: IANS

The post China could have mitigated damage with timely warnings: Ex-army officer on Nepal floods appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Colombo/New Delhi, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha and High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Mahishini Colonne on Friday reviewed the ongoing initiatives of the India-Sri Lanka Foundation and examined new project proposals to deepen bilateral ties across various sectors.

The two officials reviewed the work as they co-chaired the 41st Board Meeting of the India–Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF) in New Delhi on Friday.

The ISLF is a trust fund set up by the Governments of India and Sri Lanka which provides funds for projects aimed at fostering ties between the two nations through enhancement of economic, scientific, educational, technical and cultural cooperation. The Foundation was established in 1998 by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the governments of India and Sri Lanka.

"Today, co-chaired the 41st Board Meeting of the India–Sri Lanka Foundation in New Delhi, along with High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Mahishini Colonne. Board Members Mohan Kumar, Ashok Malik and Prasad Kariyawasam also attended the meeting," High Commissioner Jha posted on X.

"The meeting reviewed the foundation’s ongoing initiatives and examined new project proposals to deepen India-Sri Lanka ties across education, culture, science, technology, and other areas," he added.

On August 6, India's Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Maitrey Kulkarni, handed over more Bailey bridges to Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development Upali Samarasinghe.

These bridges will be installed by engineers of the Indian Army in Sri Lanka, restoring connectivity and supporting infrastructure development.

"The next set of Bailey Bridges, weighing over 250 MT, was handed over today by the Deputy High Commissioner Maitrey Kulkarni to Hon. Upali Samarasinghe, Deputy Minister of Co-operative Development Sri Lanka," the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka posted on X.

"Part of India’s USD 450 million reconstruction package, these bridges will be installed across Sri Lanka by Indian Army engineers, restoring connectivity and supporting infrastructure development," it added.

On August 5, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reaffirmed India's unwavering commitment to Sri Lanka under India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and 'Vision MAHASAGAR' during his official visit to the island nation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath. He also held discussions with Foreign Secretary Aruni Ranaraja. Foreign Secretary also met with Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa and had separate meetings with leaders of the Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian Origin Tamil (IOT) community.

During his meetings, both sides undertook a comprehensive review of the ongoing cooperation on bilateral issues and projects between India and Sri Lanka.

Source: IANS

The post India and Sri Lanka review ongoing initiatives, new project proposals to deepen partnership appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Kathmandu/New Delhi, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) India is stepping up its humanitarian assistance to Nepal following the devastating flash floods that has left hundreds dead, with a third aircraft carrying relief supplies expected to depart for the neighbouring country Friday evening, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.

Addressing a bi-weekly press briefing in New Delhi on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the flight would carry 12-13 tonnes of essential supplies, including portable generators, dignity kits, food, water purification tablets and medicines, based on requirements conveyed by the Nepali side.

“As this tragedy unfolded, the same day we mobilised our humanitarian assistance efforts and we had one aircraft; the first aircraft departed on 26th August in the evening. It carried 10 tonnes of relief materials, which included temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines. Thereafter, there was a second departure which happened yesterday, 27th August at around 10.30 am in the morning. This particular flight carried 37.5 tonnes of relief material, which included tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, dewatering pumps, kitchen sets, gen sets, medicines and food items,” Jaiswal stated.

“And then we are considering the third flight to be leaving this evening, expected to be leaving this evening... The items that this particular flight will be carrying will include portable gen sets, dignity kits, food, water purification tablets, medicines, and things that have been requested by the Nepali side to us... The total load of this particular flight would be something around 12 to 13 tonnes...overall keeping in mind that this flight also takes off we would have sent 60 tonnes of relief materials to Nepal through our humanitarian assistance,” he added.

Jaiswal also said that India was preparing additional support for Nepal, including a tunnel rescue team, with a recce team being flown in first to assess the ground situation and the equipment required for the operation.

"As requested by Nepal, we are preparing to send a tunnel rescue team, for which a recce team is being flown in first to assess the on-ground situation and what sort of equipment will be required. We are also sending a medical team to Nepal. In addition, we have also offered Bailey bridges along with associated technical teams so that connectivity can be restored quickly in the affected parts of Nepal and we can help in rescue and relief efforts... One Bailey bridge is already in Nepal and can be deployed for relief and connectivity efforts,” the MEA spokesperson mentioned.

The catastrophic flash floods in Nepal's Bhote Koshi River have led to the death of nearly 550 people while 977 still remain out of contact.

The floods, believed to have been triggered by an avalanche on a transboundary river between Nepal and China upstream of the Bhote Koshi River, left a trail of destruction along the river banks downstream, sweeping away several human settlements, roads, hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure, among other facilities.

Source: IANS

The post India steps up humanitarian assistance to Nepal, third flight to carry more relief material appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Nuwakot (Nepal), Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) In the aftermath of the devastating flash floods in Nepal, which have so far claimed 469 lives, with 977 people still out of contact, citizens of the Himalayan nation on Friday described how "everything got swept away at once", while expressing uncertainty about the identification of those who died in the tragedy.

Speaking to IANS, a volunteer involved in rescue operations in Nuwakot said: "We just arrived here from Kathmandu about two hours ago to assess immediate relief needs, such as food, drinking water and overnight shelter arrangements for the affected people...I don't know how this disaster happened; everything got swept away at once."

He said that the citizens didn't receive any alert regarding the flash floods, while adding: "People never expected such huge (waves)...the main road at this place and 30-35 kilometres of area from here, everything got washed away."

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP Dhanendra Karki said: "Around 50 to 60 people from (his constituency) Sindhuli alone are missing so far. We haven't been able to trace them yet...Now again we have been told that the dam has breached...Still, I would go a little ahead and see if I can identify anyone from my area. I have come here to search for them."

He said 20-22 helicopters are currently being used by the Nepal government in the rescue operations.

"The deceased could not be identified yet...in fact, nothing could be gauged so far about how many pilgrims were on their way to the Kailash Mansarovar and how many of them have lost their lives," he told IANS.

The Nepal MP expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending timely aid to the flood-ravaged nation.

"Prime Minister Modi has extended immense help. I express my deepest gratitude to the Indian government for standing by Nepal in this time of crisis," he said.

Former Nepal Finance Minister Barshaman Pun echoed it, saying: "Yes, acting as a true neighbour, the prompt message of support from Prime Minister Modi and the relief assistance from the Government of India are deeply appreciated. On behalf of the people of Nepal and our political parties, I express our sincere gratitude and thanks."

Tamara Demuria, Chief Humanitarian Officer at Corus International, which is also providing aid to the flood-affected people, said: "We're very concerned because of the extreme devastation. I went all the way to the north, following the riverbed, to check what the damage is. The footage that I was able to take myself is very concerning because you see washed-out houses, solar panels that have been completely taken by the water, and a lot of livelihoods lost. And there's absolutely no sign of this calming down or coming back to normal anytime soon."

Meanwhile, Nepal said that a barrier lake upstream of the Gyirong border port on the Tibet side of the border has broken its banks, with security forces warning rescuers to head towards safety amid a renewed risk of more flooding, NDTV reported.

Talking to IANS, Nepal Police officer P. Chaudhary said: "We received alerts indicating that water levels originating from the China border upstream are rising rapidly. Therefore, a general alert has been sounded for everyone to move to safer locations and protect their lives...so, rescue operations are temporarily halted."

Source: IANS

The post ‘Everything got swept away at once’: Uncertainty prevails amid rescue, relief efforts in flood-hit Nepal appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Kathmandu, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nepal Police said they had arrested two men for allegedly stealing gold earrings from the body of a woman who was swept downstream into the Narayani River during devastating floods in the country.

After a video showing the incident went viral on social media and sparked widespread outrage, police arrested the suspects after identifying them through an examination of the video. The footage showed two men pulling the woman's body from the river before allegedly removing earrings from both her ears.

Nepal Police later shared a video, saying that the men allegedly involved in stealing the earrings from the dead woman had been taken into custody. A police official from the District Police Office, Chitwan, Suraj Budha, said the duo were arrested on Thursday.

According to a statement from the District Police Office, Chitwan, Madan Bhujel, 25, and Umesh Chaudhary, 38, both temporarily residing at Bharatpur Metropolitan City, in southern Chitwan district, were arrested near Pokhara Bus Park of the city.

Police also shared the video of the alleged theft and informed the public that the suspects had been arrested. In the viral video previously shared on social media, two men can be seen using wooden planks and the woman's hair to pull her body out of the water. They then appear to remove earrings from both ears and place them aside. Several people can be seen standing around the scene, with some recording the incident on their phones.

Chitwan Police said their investigation established that the body had been swept away by the deadly floods that wreaked havoc in parts of the country and was carried into the Narayani River in the southern plains.

Police described the incident as an inhuman act at a time when people are suffering from the disaster. The arrests came as Nepal continues a massive search-and-rescue operation. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 478 people had been confirmed dead in the disaster by Friday noon, while 977 remained out of contact.

Meanwhile, Nepali authorities on Friday issued a fresh warning about the risk of another flood, stating that they had received a report of a lake outburst in the Tibetan region of China that could trigger fresh flooding in Nepal.

Source: IANS

The post Two arrested in Nepal for stealing earrings from dead woman’s body after viral video appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Islamabad, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan's deteriorating water scarcity has often been attributed to climate change, an increase in population or shrinking glaciers, but the crisis has also occurred due to political choices, failure of institutions, and the gradual privatisation of a resource that should be accessible to each individual, according to a local media report.

Per capita water availability in Pakistan has reduced from more than 5,000 cubic meters in the early 1950s to less than 900 cubic meters currently, resulting in the country being below the internationally recognised threshold for water scarcity. Currently, groundwater in Pakistan supplies around 70 per cent of domestic water, around 90 per cent of household needs in rural areas, and over half of agricultural irrigation, according to a report in The Express Tribune.

People of Pakistan cannot trust the water flowing from their taps, it noted, adding that corporations, however, earn by selling the same public resource to people in plastic bottles. The packaged water industry flourished as governments did not provide safe drinking water. As the people in Pakistan did not receive a water supply, multinational companies transformed a public necessity into a commercial product, it said.

The business model of beverage companies depends on an outdated legal framework, under which firms which buy land above productive aquifers can legally extract groundwater at negligible cost before selling purified water to people at prices hundreds of thousands of times more than the extraction charges they pay, according to the report. Over the years, major bottling firms in Pakistan have extracted billions of litres of groundwater, with nearly half of that water lost during processing, according to Supreme Court audits.

"The real battle for Pakistan's future is not simply over rivers or reservoirs. It is over whether water remains a shared public inheritance or becomes another resource captured by wealth and power," the Express Tribune report stated.

Earlier in July, Quetta, the capital and largest city of the province of Balochistan, was facing a severe water crisis with groundwater levels dropping to dangerously low levels and official supplies from the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) either completely stopped or severely restricted in many residential areas.

Residents of areas, including Sariab, Sirki Road, Samungli Road, Jinnah Town, Qambarani Road, Satellite Town, Sabzal Road, and Khayaban-e-Agha, were facing problems due to water shortage. Elderly people, women and young children in Quetta were forced to travel long distances on foot to fetch water.

Many houses in Quetta had received no tap water for the past six months, severely affecting their routine life. Speaking to The Express Tribune, residents of Quetta said that they don't receive water despite paying their WASA bills regularly. The issue has not been resolved despite multiple complaints from residents, with officials only providing verbal assurances.

Source: IANS

The post Pakistan’s water crisis consequence of political choices, institutional failure: Report appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday held a meeting with officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing to discuss the relief and rescue efforts for Nepal in the wake of the deadly floods.

During the meeting, MEA officials informed about the relief supplies that will be sent to Nepal. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, and other officials were present during the meeting.

Following the meeting, EAM Jaishankar said: "Discussed the relief and rescue efforts underway in Nepal today. Our Embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing provided an updated picture in respect of the status and well-being of Indian nationals. The concerned MEA Divisions apprised us of the further relief supplies to be sent to Nepal. We give highest priority to this issue."

The meeting comes as catastrophic flash floods in Nepal's Bhote Koshi River have led to the death of 469 people while 977 people remain out of contact.

Addressing a press briefing on the Nepal disaster here on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Jaiswal said that India will send Bailey bridges to assist Nepal in the rescue and relief efforts after the flash floods. He said that India has sent 47.5 tonnes of relief material to Nepal through two aircraft.

"Two aircraft with humanitarian assistance have been sent to Kathmandu. A C-130J aircraft took off yesterday (Wednesday) at around 8.30 p.m., carrying 10 tonnes of relief material, including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, medicines, etc. And then this morning, a C-17 aircraft departed with 37.5 tonnes of supplies, comprising 28.5 tonnes of relief items such as tents, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps, dewatering pumps, kitchen sets, gensets, etc, eight tonnes of medicines, and one tonne of food items," he said.

"In total, across the two departures by air, India has sent 47.5 tonnes of emergency supplies aimed at supporting Nepal's ongoing rescue and relief operations. Let me say that further assistance is also being considered. We are also mobilising Bailey bridges to assist in rescue and relief efforts," he added.

The floods, believed to have been triggered by an avalanche on a transboundary river between Nepal and China upstream of the Bhote Koshi River, have left a trail of destruction along the riverbanks downstream, sweeping away several human settlements, roads, hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure, among other facilities.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 469 bodies have been recovered from various districts, with the highest number — 178 bodies — recovered in Chitwan district, followed by 110 in Nawalparasi East. Likewise, 44 bodies were recovered in Gorkha, 37 in Nuwakot, 28 in Tanahun, 27 in Nawalparasi West, 23 in Dhading, and 12 in Rasuwa, the authority said.

Of the 977 people out of contact, 517 are foreign nationals. The MEA said on Thursday night that as many as 290 Indians remain out of contact in the aftermath of the deadly floods in the Bhote Koshi River. The United States said that approximately 90 Americans may have been affected by the floods in Nepal, while China said that nearly 100 Chinese nationals remain missing on the Nepali side.

Among those out of contact, 127 Nepalis residing abroad are also missing, according to the authority. The latest update also said that those out of contact include 28 Nepal Police personnel, 45 Nepal Army personnel, 13 Armed Police Force personnel, 15 Customs Office staff and four Immigration Office staff.

At least 73 people have been injured in the disaster, including 43 in Rasuwa, three in Dhading and 27 in Nuwakot, the authority said.

Source: IANS

The post Nepal floods: EAM Jaishankar discusses relief and rescue efforts with MEA officials, Indian missions in Kathmandu and Beijing appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Mumbai, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Leaders across party lines on Friday expressed concern over the devastating floods in Nepal and called for intensified rescue and relief efforts, particularly for Indians stranded in the neighbouring country.

BJP's Maharashtra MLA Ram Kadam said helping a neighbouring country during a crisis has been a long-standing tradition in India. He also highlighted the concerns of Indians who had travelled to Nepal for the Kailash Yatra and were now stranded.

"Protecting one’s neighbour and supporting one’s neighbour in times of crisis has been a tradition in India since ancient times. Many Indians also went there for the Kailash Yatra and are stranded. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is a very sensitive person. He personally spoke with them to discuss how to bring them back. The Indian government is also making efforts. Some people from Maharashtra are stranded, and the Maharashtra government is also making efforts," he said.

Congress Uttar Pradesh President Ajay Rai described the situation in Nepal as unfortunate and urged the Centre to send additional relief material to assist those affected.

"The tragedy that has occurred in Nepal is very unfortunate, and we all stand with Nepal. I would urge the Government of India to send as much relief material as possible there so that the people there can be helped," he said.

Congress MP Imran Masood expressed concern over the disaster and the possibility of further flooding. Responding to reports about China’s alert regarding another possible flood in Nepal, he said: "May God make things better. May Allah ensure that nothing unfortunate happens."

Shiv Sena-UBT spokesperson Anand Dubey said the scale of the disaster was deeply distressing and emphasised the close ties between India and Nepal.

"It is very tragic and sad news that a huge natural disaster, a tragedy, has hit our neighbour Nepal. According to the information received so far, more than 400 people have died, and around 1,000 people are missing, including many people from India as well. So first, we stand with them," he said.

Dubey also appreciated the efforts of the Indian Army and Air Force in relief and rescue operations and said India and Nepal shared deep familial and economic ties.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said the floods had caused extensive damage and that several Indians, including tourists from Maharashtra, were missing or stranded.

"A major flood has hit Nepal, causing extensive damage, with many people losing their lives and several others missing. Rescue and relief operations are underway, and some tourists from Maharashtra and other parts of India are stranded there. The state government is making efforts to bring the stranded Maharashtra tourists back safely," he said.

DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan said party MP Dayanidhi Maran had already written to the External Affairs Minister, urging the government to locate people who remained unaccounted for and take necessary action.

"Nepal is another country and not part of India, so the External Affairs Ministry has to intervene and do something. That is what our MP Dayanidhi Maran had written to the minister," he said.

West Bengal Minister Shankar Ghosh said coordinated efforts were being made to rescue people in Nepal, including Indian tourists and those who had travelled there for religious purposes.

"The government is making every possible effort to rescue the people of Nepal, as well as those who went to Nepal as tourists or to visit Manas. There are joint efforts being made from all sides, and we are hopeful that we will receive some information," he said.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand expressed grief over the deaths and conveyed condolences to the families of the victims. He also raised concerns over reports that Nepal may not have been adequately informed about the possibility of the disaster.

"The incident in Nepal is very sad. The Samajwadi Party expresses deep grief over the incident and conveys its condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones," he said, calling the situation a major international tragedy.

Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Ray said the exact extent of the loss of life was still unclear and expressed concern over Indians who remained stranded or unaccounted for.

"The incident in Nepal is a very tragic and difficult disaster. It is still not clear how many people have lost their lives. Many Indian citizens are stranded there, and their families have not been able to receive any information about them. More than 300 people from Bengal are reportedly unaccounted for there. So, this is a very major tragedy," he said.

Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut also urged the Centre to provide large-scale assistance to Nepal and rescue stranded Indians.

"Many people from India are stranded and missing, including more than 60 people from Maharashtra. Given the extent of this devastation, I believe the Government of India must step in and provide large-scale assistance to rescue and support everyone -- not just our citizens, but all the people of Nepal," Raut said.

Source: IANS

The post Nepal floods: Leaders across party lines urge relief, rescue efforts for stranded Indians appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Chennai, Aug 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered an IAS-led team to travel to Nepal to coordinate efforts to rescue Tamil Nadu residents stranded after devastating floods swept through the Himalayan nation's northern region.

The decision was taken after CM Vijay chaired an emergency meeting with officials on Thursday to review the condition of people from the state caught in the disaster.

The Chief Minister said a delegation led by Tamil Nadu Home Commissioner Ashish Kumar would leave Delhi for Kathmandu, assess the stranded Tamils and work with the Nepal government to coordinate the rescue operations.

The floods were triggered after an avalanche caused the Kosi and Trishuli rivers to overflow, inundating large areas.

At least 175 people were reported dead in Rasuwa, a northern border district of Nepal, while nearly 1,000 people, including about 300 Indians, were reported missing.

The disaster has disrupted transport and communication links, complicating efforts to trace pilgrims and tourists.

School Education Minister Rajmohan Arumugam told the Tamil Nadu Assembly about the plight of people from the state caught in the devastating floods.

He said that available information indicated that 103 people from Tamil Nadu had travelled to Nepal. Among them was a group of 57 people from Kumbakonam.

"Of this group of 57 people from Kumbakonam, 21 had been rescued and moved to safety," the Minister told the House.

Efforts were continuing to establish contact with the others and determine their locations and condition.

The decision to send a senior official-led team is expected to strengthen coordination among Tamil Nadu authorities, Indian diplomatic officials and the Nepal government.

The delegation will collect verified information about those missing or stranded, identify their requirements and facilitate their evacuation.

Officials are also expected to remain in contact with the families of those affected and provide updates as rescue operations progress.

The state government has directed departments concerned to extend all necessary assistance to the stranded travellers and ensure that rescued residents are brought home safely.

With uncertainty continuing over the whereabouts of several Indians, rescue teams are working in difficult terrain amid damaged roads and disrupted communication networks.

Tamil Nadu authorities said the situation was being monitored closely and further measures would be taken based on reports from the team in Nepal.

Source: IANS

The post Tamil Nadu to send IAS-led team to Nepal to coordinate rescue of stranded Tamils appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Kathmandu, Aug 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) As many as 290 Indians have remained out of contact in the aftermath of the deadly floods in the Bhote Koshi river, which have left a trail of destruction across the Himalayan country, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

The Ministry also said that 63 Indian workers at the Trishuli-I project in Rasuwa district are among those affected, including 21 from Tamil Nadu who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

The MEA also made public a list of rescued Indian nationals. They include: Sumit Kumar Khare; Mukesh Kumar; Sachin Kumar; Jashmant Singh; Chandan Tiwari; Devan Kumar Shah; Amrendra Kumar Yadav; Om Prakash Yadav; Sampat Kumar; Neeraj Kumar Thakur; Jay Hansda; Sunil Kumar Singh; Upendra Barnmal; Rahul Kumar Gupta; Neeraj Kumar Patel; Sanover Alam; Upendra Bhasin; Yogesh Kumar; Md Akram Alam; Md Inzamamul Haque; Abhishek Kumar; Abhishek Yadav; Mangal Singh; Pankaj Kumar Shah; Nilesh Kumar; Ashutosh Mankopadhyay; Lakshman Tiwari and Ganguli Patel.

Likewise, other individuals rescued include: Indrajeet Kumar; Gyan Singh; Jay Krishna; Shahrukh; Nipindra Mandal; Saddam Hussain; Raj Kumar Tiwari; Alok Kumar Shah; Arun Kumar Shah; Satyendra Kumar Singh; Bittu Kumar; Adi Abed Basumatary; KK Pandey; Abhishek Tiwari; Akash; Pradeep; Ranjan Kumar; Pavan Lodhi; Anil; Vijay Prasad; Narayan Bahadur; Janmejay Singh; Sunil Giri; Roshan Kumar; Vishamer Singh; Suhail Mustafa; Nilesh; Pramod Gupta; Jitendar Ram; Nitesh Kumar Singh; Nijauadin; Kavi Kumar; Rohit Verma.

Rasuwa and Nuwakot are among the hardest-hit districts by the floods, which were likely triggered by an avalanche on a transboundary river between Nepal and China upstream of the Bhote Koshi river. By late Thursday afternoon, Nepal Police reported that a total of 644 people were missing, including 517 foreigners.

Meanwhile, the US State Department said it was aware of around 90 Americans who may have been affected by the floods and was closely monitoring the situation.

"We can confirm that three American citizens have been safely rescued in Nepal. We are not aware of any US citizen deaths at this time," the US State Department said.

Likewise, a large number of Chinese nationals are also missing in the aftermath of the massive floods in Nepal.

Nearly 100 Chinese nationals remain missing on the Nepalese side following Wednesday's mudslide, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing on Thursday.

According to Nepal Police, 127 Nepalis are also missing. Among the foreign nationals, 53 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 35 Australians, 33 Britons and 25 Canadians have also been listed as missing.

The list also includes nine Singaporeans, eight Russians, eight Germans, six Latvians, six South Africans, five Japanese, five New Zealanders, four French nationals, three Belgians, three Spaniards, two Dutch nationals, two Kazakhs, two Portuguese, two Irish and two Italians.

One person each from the Philippines, Finland, Belarus, Sweden, Serbia, Switzerland, Israel, Lithuania, Bulgaria and other countries has also been listed as missing.

The latest figures come as search and rescue operations continue across several flood-hit districts in Nepal.

Authorities have been working to locate missing people and recover those believed to have been swept away or buried under mud and debris.

The massive floods have caused widespread destruction along the Bhote Koshi and downstream river systems, damaging settlements, roads, bridges, hydropower projects and other critical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, police said that the bodies of 389 people swept away by the floods have been recovered, with the highest number of bodies found in Chitwan, at 137, followed by Nawalparasi East, with 87, and Dhading, with 33.

Source: IANS

The post 290 Indians out of contact after Nepal floods: MEA appeared first on Social News XYZ.