West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said 108 people from the State were missing in Nepal. Ms Banerjee was speaking to journalists in Jalpaiguri after a meeting with district officials to assess the impact of the earthquake.
“We do not have any information about the whereabouts of 108 people. We have the contact numbers of many of them and are trying to reach them ,” said Ms. Banerjee.
She said one person from Bengal had died in Nepal but the remains could not be retrieved due to procedural hurdles.
The Chief Minister instructed district officials to contact the family members of the missing tourists. “Beside the missing people, there are 336 tourists from Bengal stranded in Nepal. We have information about them,” said Ms. Banerjee, adding that many were on their way back.
She said 62 blocks had been affected in the State. Some parts of Kolkata and Darjeeling districts as well as Siliguri Municipality area have also been affected. Ms. Banerjee said that Central aid would be sought after making an assessment of damage to life and property.
The State government would send a bus to Kathmandu to bring the stranded people from Bengal. “Many from Nepal are working here. The bus will carry those who want to return to their homes,” she said.