Nepal disaster: CM Vijay deputes four ministers to coordinate efforts

CHENNAI: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay deputed four ministers to coordinate efforts to assist Tamil people who are stranded or missing following the massive floods in Nepal-Tibet border.

After chairing a high-level meeting on Thursday to take stock of the situation, Chief Minister Vijay deputed ministers Aadhav Arjuna, A Rajmohan, K Thennarasu, and Agriculture Minister R Vinoth to lead the high-level team to the flood-hit country to coordinate rescue and relief operations and ensure the safe return of Tamils.

The ministers left from Chennai by flight on Thursday (August 27) night.

An official statement said a total of 103 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu had undertaken the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in two groups.

While one group comprised 57 people - 54 from various districts of Tamil Nadu and three from Puducherry - the other group comprised 49 people, all from Chennai.

Soon after learning about Tamils missing in the disaster, the chief minister ordered the opening of helplines, and also initiated measures through the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Nepal, and officials at the Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to provide assistance to those affected.

To expedite rescue and relief operations, Vijay deputed a high-level team headed by Ashish Kumar, Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi, along with a team of officials, to Nepal. The team will coordinate with the Nepalese authorities on rescue and relief operations.

The team was instructed to take immediate steps for the safe repatriation of 20 Tamils rescued from the flash floods, identify the status of those who could not be contacted, expedite rescue operations, and provide medical assistance.

Besides them, Non-Resident Tamils Welfare and Rehabilitation Department Director R Satish will also camp at the Tamil Nadu House in Delhi.

The team of ministers and officials will monitor the rescue efforts, coordinate medical assistance and counselling through medical teams for Tamils rescued from Nepal and ensure their safe return to Tamil Nadu, the statement said.

After the DMK, AIADMK, CPM, CPI, Congress, and PMK raised the matter in the Assembly, Minister Rajmohan said the chief minister has already conducted a review meeting. “The State government has set up helpline numbers for needy people.

Within 24 hours of the helpline numbers being announced, 937 calls were received and assistance was provided," the minister said.

Later, speaking to reporters at Chennai airport while leaving, Raj Mohan said preliminary information indicated that around 103 people from Tamil Nadu could have travelled to Nepal. Of them, 26 had been rescued so far.

"Those who travelled in groups can be contacted easily. However, there are difficulties in reaching some who travelled in smaller groups or individually. Their families have also been contacting the government for information," he said.

The minister said the government had received information that those who could not be contacted were not facing any immediate threat to their lives.

More than 70 bridges and over 40 connecting roads have been damaged in the disaster-hit areas, making road rescue operations and transportation of rescued persons difficult. Rescue efforts have therefore been intensified through both road and air routes, he said.

The chief minister was being briefed on the situation every hour, Rajmohan said, adding that arrangements were being made to bring the stranded Tamils to Delhi and from there safely to Tamil Nadu.