New Delhi: Twenty-one Tamil Nadu residents rescued from flood-affected areas of Nepal have reached Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

The group, who had arrived in Kathmandu after being rescued from the disaster-hit region, were received at the national capital by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

21 rescued pilgrims return safely

The 21 Indian nationals were part of a group that had travelled to Nepal on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar. They were rescued by the Nepal Army from what Jaishankar described as a very difficult location before being brought to Kathmandu.

The External Affairs Minister met the group in Delhi and expressed relief that they had returned safely.

Jaishankar said the government remained focused on establishing contact with Indians still unaccounted for in the flood-affected areas.

More Indians rescued from Nepal

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 63 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli One hydropower project had also been rescued.

In addition, 96 Indian nationals who had been stranded on the Chinese side safely crossed into Nepal by land. Efforts are now underway to evacuate them.

However, around 320 Indian nationals remain uncontactable or missing, according to the MEA. Around 100 people of Indian origin holding other nationalities are also reportedly uncontactable.

Tamil Nadu team reviews rescue efforts

A delegation of senior Tamil Nadu ministers led by Aadhav Arjuna met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Delhi to review rescue and relief efforts.

The delegation also visited the MEA Situation Room, which is operating around the clock to assist Indians and their families affected by the floods and mudslides.

The ministers reviewed coordination between the State and Central governments to ensure the safety and return of Tamil Nadu residents stranded in Nepal.

Help centre coordinates assistance

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu delegation reviewed the Help Centre Control Room at Tamil Nadu House in Delhi.

The centre is coordinating information, assistance and rescue efforts for people affected by the disaster. Officials reviewed calls received from families and information gathered about residents stranded in Nepal.

With rescue operations continuing, authorities remain focused on locating those still uncontactable and bringing stranded Indians home safely.