Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Meghalaya authorities are scrambling to locate residents stranded after catastrophic flash floods and mudslides ripped through Nepal. The disaster hit the Rasuwa district near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, shredding roads, bridges, and villages. Rescue teams remain on the ground.
Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal confirmed the grim scale of the crisis. He stated, "almost 300 Indian tourists were among thousands of people who have been reported missing." The official death toll has climbed to 177.
The Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) issued a notice from Shillong on August 27. They want information on any state resident who is currently uncontactable. The SDMA expects friends, family, travel agencies, and tour operators to step forward with tips.
Call 6009924512 to report a missing person. You can also dial emergency numbers 112 or 1070, or reach CM Connect at 1971. Prepare your facts. Officials need the name, age, Meghalaya address, and the last known location of the missing person. They also require the date and time of the final communication along with your personal contact details.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is coordinating with local agencies to support those caught in the wreckage. Meghalaya officials will pass all gathered data to the proper authorities to verify the status of missing citizens and organize rescue help.
Updated at 28th August 2026 at 10:00am
The catastrophe in the Himalayas has sparked a political firestorm at home. Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma warned that Meghalaya risks similar destruction if it ignores the link between unplanned construction and natural disasters. He pointed to the rapid expansion of Shillong and other urban centers, where development is outpacing the environment’s ability to handle extreme rainfall and slope instability.
Sangma is pushing for a total overhaul of how the state handles infrastructure, calling for mandatory social audits and rigorous environmental impact assessments. He argues that officials must stop treating these assessments as mere regulatory hurdles. Instead, they should function as a test to see if roads and buildings can actually survive the state's rugged terrain. The veteran politician urged the government to map out vulnerable drainage channels and slopes before the next cloudburst hits, rather than waiting for the rescue crews to arrive.
Updated at 29th August 2026 at 5:46am
Home Minister Prestone Tynsong confirmed today that the government has received zero reports of any state residents caught in the Nepal disaster zone. Tynsong has ordered the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to keep running checks, but as of now, the state remains in the clear.
The death toll in Nepal has spiked to 579. Ministry of External Affairs officials report that at least 320 Indians are still missing, with another 400 people trapped on the Chinese side of the border.
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