Nepal flood: Keralam starts help desk to provide emergency assisstance to stranded people - The Hindu

**Keralam Launches Emergency Help Desk Amid Nepal’s Devastating Floods**

The Himalayan nation of Nepal is grappling with one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent memory after a massive glacial lake outburst triggered a cascade of landslides and flash floods along the country’s northern border with Tibet. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the sudden collapse of a glacial moraine generated seismic tremors that amplified the downstream deluge, which has so far claimed at least **160 lives** and left **844 people missing**, according to official tallies. Among the missing are **133 Indian nationals**, many of whom were working in the disaster‑hit districts of Dolakha, Sindhupalchok and Rasuwa. The scale of the catastrophe has prompted a coordinated rescue effort involving the Nepali army, the Indian Armed Forces, and a host of international humanitarian agencies.

In response to the growing humanitarian need, the Kerala‑based diaspora organization **Keralam** has set up a dedicated help desk in Kathmandu to assist stranded victims and their families. The desk, operating from the Indian Embassy’s premises, provides real‑time information on evacuation routes, shelter availability, medical aid, and repatriation procedures. Keralam volunteers, many of whom are expatriates from the Indian state of Kerala, are also liaising with Nepali authorities to streamline the distribution of food packets, dry clothing and emergency cash transfers. “Our primary aim is to serve as a single point of contact for those who are lost, injured or separated from their loved ones,” said Keralam founder **Anil Nair**, adding that the organization is mobilizing additional resources from Kerala’s civil‑society network to supplement government relief efforts.

While the help desk has already facilitated the safe passage of several hundred evacuees and helped families locate missing relatives, challenges remain. Ongoing aftershocks, blocked mountain passes and deteriorating weather conditions continue to hamper rescue operations, and the number of missing persons is expected to rise as search teams expand into remote valleys. The Nepalese government has appealed for further international assistance, and neighboring India has pledged to dispatch additional medical teams and relief convoys. As the floodwaters recede, Keralam plans to transition from emergency response to longer‑term rehabilitation, focusing on shelter reconstruction and livelihood restoration for the affected communities.

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