Shashi Tharoor Praises Government Rescue Work in Nepal, Contrasting With Mallikarjun Kharge's Demands Congress MP Shashi Tharoor wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar praising India's rapid rescue efforts in flood-hit Nepal, diverging from party chief Mallikarjun Kharge's calls for stepped-up government action. 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. What this means for you The unfolding disaster in Nepal and the corresponding rescue operations have direct implications for families whose members remain stranded in the region. • Across India: Families with relatives stuck in the disaster zones must monitor official updates closely and stay in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs helplines. Maintaining regular communication with authorities ensures timely information regarding evacuation flights and rescue schedules. • In Nepal: Residents and stranded individuals in flood-ravaged districts face severe shortages of clean water, food, and medical supplies. It is vital to follow local administrative advisories, stay in designated safe zones, and coordinate with relief personnel on the ground. Questions & Answers 1. Who did Shashi Tharoor write his letter to? Shashi Tharoor wrote his letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. 2. What did Shashi Tharoor praise in his letter? He praised India's rapid and comprehensive rescue and relief operations following the floods in Nepal. 3. What did Mallikarjun Kharge demand? Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah demanding intensified rescue efforts and the deployment of NDRF teams. 4. How many Indian citizens remained out of contact? According to Ministry of External Affairs data, roughly 320 Indian nationals could not be contacted. 5. How much relief material had India sent by August 27? India had dispatched 47.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Nepal by August 27. https://trendkia.com/en/politics/nepala-apada-para-shashi-tharoor-ke-rukha-ne-barhai-kangresa-ki-mushkilen-kharge-ki-manga-se-bilkula-alaga-dikha-sura-24281 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.