106 Maharashtra Tourists Rescued from Flood-Hit Nepal, 84 More Expected to Return Saturday

The Maharashtra government has intensified efforts to bring back citizens stranded in flood-hit Nepal, with the first batch of 106 tourists reaching India safely on Friday. Another 84 people are expected to return on Saturday as rescue and evacuation efforts continue.

The tourists were among those caught in the massive flooding and disruption across several parts of Nepal. The disaster has left roads blocked and disrupted normal travel routes, forcing authorities to use alternative routes and coordinate closely with Indian and Nepalese agencies.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a video conference with several of the returning tourists to enquire about their condition. The tourists thanked the Maharashtra government and the Chief Minister’s Office for coordinating their evacuation.

Fadnavis told them that the rescue effort was supported by the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, which helped facilitate diplomatic coordination and relief operations between India and Nepal.

The state administration is tracking tourists from several districts, including Raigad, Ahilyanagar, Nashik, Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur.

All 106 tourists from Nagpur have been accounted for and are safe. Four were flown directly to New Delhi, while the remaining 102 travelled by bus to Patna in Bihar. After spending the night in Patna, they boarded a train for Nagpur at 7 a.m. on Saturday.

Another group of 45 tourists organised by Sangamner-based tour operator Darshan Gunjal also reached a safe location in Chitwan, Nepal. The group includes 27 people from Ahilyanagar, 12 from Nashik, five from Pune and one from Mumbai.

With roads leading directly towards Kathmandu severely affected, the group took an alternative route through Lumbini and was expected to cross into India through Ayodhya on Saturday.

A separate 37-member pilgrimage group organised by the Jai Girnari Shivdutta Mandir Trust in Raigad reached Saga in China. Accompanied by two doctors, all members were reported to be in good health. The group travelled through alternative mountain routes to reach Kathmandu Airport and was scheduled to fly back to India on Saturday.

Meanwhile, authorities are continuing ground-level efforts to locate and assist 11 tourists from Nashik who are currently in Kathmandu.

The Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has set up a 24-hour war room at the state secretariat in Mumbai to coordinate information, rescue efforts and communication with families.

People seeking information about stranded relatives or requiring urgent assistance can contact the state's toll-free helpline at 1070.

District Collectors have also been instructed to collect real-time information about affected citizens through digital geo-tracking systems covering urban and rural local bodies. Families of stranded people are being encouraged to provide accurate location details through the state’s dedicated assistance portal.

The evacuation effort highlights the importance of coordinated cross-border response during large-scale disasters. With several roads and transport links disrupted in Nepal, authorities are having to combine air evacuation, road transport, rail movement and alternative mountain routes to bring stranded Indian citizens home.

Maharashtra officials said they remain in constant coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and Nepalese authorities and are monitoring the situation to ensure that the remaining stranded citizens are safely evacuated.

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