Nepal floods: Eknath Shinde video calls stranded Maharashtra residents, assures safe return

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has spoken via video call with tourists and residents from the state stranded in Nepal following devastating floods as authorities stepped up efforts to gather information and coordinate assistance for their safe returnMore than 80 people from Maharashtra are reported to be stranded in Nepal according to preliminary information collected by the State Emergency Operation Center SEOC Maharashtra State authorities said efforts were underway to verify the details of the affected citizens and coordinate assistance with the relevant agenciesDuring the video interaction Shinde inquired about the wellbeing of those stranded and sought details about the situation on the ground He assured them that the state administration was working to facilitate their safe and early returnShinde speaks to stranded citizens via video callEarlier speaking to reporters Shinde described the situation in Nepal as tragic and said the Maharashtra government was in contact with people from the state who remained strandedThe incident that has happened in Nepal is a very tragic and unfortunate event Our countrys Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fully cooperating with Nepal Some people from Maharashtra are there Our disaster management is in contact with those people We will work to safely bring back those from Maharashtra who are stuck thereThe Deputy Chief Ministers outreach comes as the state administration works to identify all Maharashtra residents affected by the disaster and establish contact with them and their familiesOver 80 Maharashtra residents reported strandedThe SEOC said more than 80 citizens from Maharashtra had been reported stranded in Nepal based on preliminary informationOf them 57 were travelling through Richa Tours Pvt Ltd the agency said The SEOC has established contact with the travel company and is coordinating with it regarding the affected travellersAuthorities said the number of stranded citizens and other details could change as information is verified and more reports are receivedDistrict authorities asked to verify detailsThe SEOC has developed a webbased link to collect information about citizens from Maharashtra who may be stranded in Nepal The link has been shared with districts across the state to ensure wider dissemination and facilitate the collection of informationDistrict Magistrates have also been instructed to collect and verify details of affected citizensThe SEOC said its team was continuously receiving information through the webbased forms while a help desk had been set up to respond to inquiries and provide assistanceThe Maharashtra government has issued helpline numbers 9321587143 1070 and 02222027990 for information and assistance related to citizens affected by the situation in NepalFour civilians confirmed safe so farAccording to the latest update available with the SEOC four civilians have been confirmed safeThe information collected by the Maharashtra agency will also be shared with the Integrated Control Room Emergency Response of the Ministry of Home Affairs in New DelhiThe state government is maintaining coordination with travel agencies and the families of stranded citizens as part of efforts to obtain updated information and provide necessary assistanceNepal disaster leaves hundreds dead many missingMeanwhile Nepals National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority NDRRMA said in its latest status report released on Thursday that 389 bodies had been recovered and 977 people remained missing following the Bhote Koshi flood in Rasuwa districtWith inputs from ANI