Will send team to Nepal if MEA gives permission: West Bengal CM

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West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke with the families of the missing persons over a video call and assured them of all possible help in rescuing their loved ones. File. | Photo Credit: ANI

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said late on Friday night (August 28, 2026) that the State Government would send a team to Nepal to assist in rescue and relief operations if it received 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-rank police officer, and a senior IAS officer of secretary or joint secretary level. Once we get permission, we will move them to Kathmandu,” Mr. Adhikari said.

Citing official records, he said that of the 39 people from West Bengal reported missing in Nepal, the State Government has managed to contact two and is arranging for their early return. They are Anukul Poddar and his wife (name not published yet). Both are aged above 60 and are from Basirhat. The remaining 37 are still untraced.

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

On Friday night (August 28, 2026), the Chief Minister also spoke with the families of the missing persons over a video call and assured them of all possible help in rescuing their loved ones. The video call, held from Bhawani Bhawan, the State police headquarters, was also attended by several senior police officials.

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

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

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

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

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

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