Several groups of Indian nationals, including pilgrims travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and workers at the Trishuli 1 power project, remain uncontactable after the disaster in Nepal's Rasuwa district.

As rescue and relief operations continue in Nepal following the tragedy in Rasuwa district, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said 288 Indian nationals remain uncontactable, while 21 Indians have so far been rescued.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is working with Nepalese authorities to establish contact with the missing Indians and locate those stranded in affected areas.

The 288 Indian nationals include several groups travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, workers at the Trishuli 1 power project, and tourists from different Indian states.

Jaiswal said 73 Indian nationals working at the Trishuli 1 power project are among those currently uncontactable. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is in touch with the project head to obtain more information about the workers.

Communication with the area has been particularly difficult, the MEA said, because communication lines have been disrupted following the disaster.

"Communication lines in that area are totally disrupted, and therefore it has been difficult to get in touch with people on the ground," Jaiswal said.

Groups Of Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims Uncontactable

Two sizeable groups from Tamil Nadu, comprising 37 and 49 Indian nationals, are also among those who remain uncontactable.

The two groups had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through separate travel agents -- Samrat Travels and Fly Everest Travels.

Another group of 32 Indians from West Bengal, who travelled with the help of Samrat Travels, is reported to have been in Timure in Rasuwa district, the area where the disaster occurred.

The MEA said 61 Indian nationals from different states who travelled through Richa Tours are also currently uncontactable.

In addition, 33 Indian nationals from Kerala are among those whose whereabouts have not yet been confirmed.

These groups together account for the bulk of the 288 Indian nationals currently listed as uncontactable by the Indian government.

The MEA has stressed that being listed as "uncontactable" does not necessarily mean that the individuals are missing or injured. The term is being used because authorities have not been able to establish communication with them.

Source: ndtv