Hundreds of Nepalese stranded in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir

KATHMANDU: Hundreds of Nepalese nationals, mostly labourers, have been stranded in Jammu and Kashmir after floods and landslides hit the northern state.

Most of the stranded Nepalese hail from the Terai region, the southern plains of Nepal, situated on the Nepal-India border, according to officials.

"We don't have exact information as to how many Nepalese are stranded there and Nepalese Embassy in Delhi is collecting detailed information about the condition of the stranded people there," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Khag Raj Adhikari told PTI.

Charge d'Affaires at the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi, Krishna Dhakal, joint secretary in Nepal's foreign ministry, Amrit Rai, as well as Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, were also stranded in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

"However, Indian Air Force had rescued them from the disaster hit region 2-3 days ago," he said.

They had visited the area last week for attending a meeting of B P Koirala India-Nepal Foundation.

"We hope that the government of India will carry out necessary rescue works to evacuate the stranded Nepalese and the Nepalese Embassy in Delhi will coordinate with them in the matter," he said.

"We don't have report of any casualty in the incident on the Nepalese side," Adhikari said.

According to media reports there are some 1,000 to 1,500 Nepalese workers among those stranded in Kashmir after the disaster hit.

Many Nepalese labourers visit Jammu and Kashmir and other Indian states as seasonal migrants and labourers to pluck apples and other fruits.