If MEA gives permission, will send team to Nepal: West Bengal CM

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke to the families of the missing through video call and assured them of all possible help to rescue their loved ones. File. | Photo credit: ANI

Calcutta

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said late on Friday (August 28, 2026) that the state government will send a team to Nepal to assist in rescue and relief operations if it receives permission from the Ministry of External Affairs.

“I have asked the chief secretary to seek permission from the MEA to send our delegation to Nepal, which will include one minister, one MLA, one IG police officer and a senior IAS officer at the level of secretary or joint secretary. Once we get the permission, we will move them to Kathmandu,” Mr Adhikari said.

Citing official records, he said that out of 39 people from West Bengal reported missing in Nepal, the state government has managed to contact two and is making arrangements for their return soon. They are Anukul Poddar and his wife (name not released yet). Both are above 60 years and are from Basirhat. The remaining 37 are still untraced.

“Many families have heard that some people have been rescued on the Tibetan side. We have assured the families that we are trying to collect a list of those names,” Mr Adhikari said.

CM speaks to families

On Friday evening (August 28, 2026), the Chief Minister also spoke to the families of the missing via video call and assured them of all possible help in rescuing their loved ones. Several senior police officials also participated in the video call organized by Bhawani Bhawan, the state police headquarters.

During the meeting, families expressed concerns about rescue and relief operations and sought information on ways to follow updates on their relatives.

Among the 37 people still missing from West Bengal, 32 had embarked on the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra with the Kolkata-based travel agency ‘Cholo Jai’. Of these, 30 were tourists, at least 21 of whom were senior citizens, while two were tour operators.

One of the missing is Sharmistha Bhowmik Roy, daughter-in-law of former Union Minister Mukul Roy.

Her husband Subhrangshu Roy, a former MLA and son of Mukul Roy, told the media that the families of the missing have now become one family as they wait for their loved ones to return home.

A delegation of Trinamool Congress leaders also met Subhrangshu Roy on Saturday (August 29, 2026). Mukul Roy, one of the founding members of the party, died a few months ago.

Published – 29 Aug 2026 21:26 IST