Internal differences within the Congress party have come to the surface regarding the humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Nepal. While party president Mallikarjun Kharge recently urged the central government to intensify rescue operations and expedite aid, senior party leader and MP Shashi Tharoor took a distinctly different path by writing a letter of appreciation to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar over India's ongoing relief work.
Appreciation for Relief and Rescue Operations
In his communication to S. Jaishankar, Shashi Tharoor described India's response to the devastating floods as swift and comprehensive. He specifically highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's early outreach to Kathmandu and the immediate dispatch of relief materials, medical teams, and tunneling experts to assist those trapped. Furthermore, Tharoor termed the safe evacuation of Indian workers stuck at the Trishuli-1 hydroelectric project a major success. He noted that several affected families had expressed deep gratitude for India's proactive efforts and asked him to convey their appreciation to the government.
Suggestions to Strengthen the Ongoing Mission
Along with his praise, Tharoor emphasized that a vast number of individuals remain stranded and the window for effective rescue is narrowing by the hour. To counter this, he offered specific recommendations to bolster operations. He requested the immediate deployment of comprehensive National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams equipped with essential gear. Additionally, he suggested deploying the Army Engineering Task Force with heavy machinery to clear and reopen the damaged Pasang Lhamu Highway as quickly as possible. He also recommended utilizing heavy-lift helicopters from the Indian Air Force to reach remote areas, alongside advanced tools like ground-penetrating radar, thermal imaging, trained canine units, and enhanced satellite imagery to locate missing persons.
Focus on the Human Element and Families
Highlighting the human aspect of the tragedy, Tharoor mentioned that he has been in touch with families whose relatives remain missing. According to him, none of these distressed relatives voiced complaints regarding India's initial response. Instead, they expressed thankfulness for the ongoing rescue work before sharing their anxieties about their loved ones. He urged the administration to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safe return of all citizens trapped in the disaster zones.
Mallikarjun Kharge Calls for Urgent Intervention
Before Tharoor's public letter, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing grave concern over the massive destruction caused by the floods in Nepal. Kharge demanded an accelerated rescue and evacuation effort to bring stranded Indians home safely, pointing out that thousands require immediate food, medicine, shelter, and basic supplies. He urged the Prime Minister to coordinate closely with the government in Nepal to secure adequate humanitarian aid. In a separate letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, Kharge also called for evaluating the deployment of additional NDRF teams to leverage their specialized expertise in disaster management.
Unaccounted Citizens and Logistical Challenges
Citing Ministry of External Affairs data, Kharge had raised concerns about roughly 320 Indian nationals with whom contact remained unestablished. He stressed that India must stand firmly by Nepal during this testing time given their longstanding social and humanitarian ties. Meanwhile, India's official relief efforts continue on the ground, with multiple consignments of food and medicines dispatched, bringing total humanitarian assistance to 47.5 tonnes by August 27. Despite these efforts, severe geographical hurdles and broken infrastructure continue to hamper rescue columns, leaving numerous remote pockets isolated.
