Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has set up a 24×7 control room in New Delhi to help people from the state who are stranded or may need assistance after the devastating flash floods in Nepal.
The move comes as families in Odisha continue to wait for information about relatives who travelled to Nepal.
At present, an Australia-based couple from Khordha district, Sandeep Mohapatra and his wife Siddharthi Kumari Sahu, remain untraced after travelling to Nepal on August 22. Their mobile phones have been switched off, and their family has been unable to contact them since the floods struck.
Sandeep had spoken to his family on the evening of August 25 while travelling by bus near the Tibet border. The following day, after news of the disaster emerged, the family could no longer reach the couple.
Their details have been shared with the Ministry of External Affairs as efforts continue to establish their whereabouts.
The situation has also brought some relief for other families from Odisha who were initially unable to contact relatives in Nepal.
Two women from the state, 20-year-old Kulsum Nigar from Baripada and 32-year-old Deepika Ekka from Bhubaneswar, were earlier reported missing. They have since contacted their families and confirmed that they are safe with their trekking group in Dhorpatan, in western Nepal.
There is similar relief for a group of young athletes from Odisha who had travelled to Nepal for a sports event. The players and their coaches have been confirmed safe in Pokhara, although travel has been disrupted because of the floods and landslides.
For the Odisha government, the immediate task is now to keep track of people from the state who may still be stranded and to make sure their families receive verified information.
Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty at the Directorate of Odisha Parivar, has been appointed as the nodal officer. He is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and other authorities to gather information about people from Odisha affected by the disaster.
The government has opened a 24×7 control room at Odisha Niwas in New Delhi for people seeking help or information.
The contact numbers are:
+91 74281 35044
+91 85278 0245
Landline: 011-23012807
The Ministry of External Affairs has also opened its own 24×7 control room. People can contact it at:
+91 11 2308 8718
+91 11 2308 8719
WhatsApp: +91 99682 91988
The Nepal disaster has made communication difficult in several affected areas, with roads damaged and travel disrupted. That has made it harder for families to reach relatives and for authorities to quickly establish who is safe.
For those families, the waiting can be especially difficult. A missed phone call or a switched-off mobile can leave relatives with very little information while rescue teams are still working in difficult conditions.
The Odisha government has said it will continue coordinating with central authorities and officials in Nepal as efforts to trace people and assist stranded travellers continue.
For now, the priority is simple: find those who are still unaccounted for, confirm the safety of those who have been traced and make sure families receive reliable information rather than having to depend on rumours or unverified messages.
The situation in Nepal remains fluid, and officials are continuing to update the list of people who have been traced or are still missing.
