Bhubaneswar, August 27: BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by the sudden floods in Nepal.

He offered prayers for those who lost their lives and urged authorities to ensure swift rescue of those who are missing.

He expressed his sympathies for families who have lost loved ones, as well as people whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed.

Taking to ‘X’ Patnaik wrote, “Deeply saddened to learn about the death of so many people in the catastrophic flash flood and mudslide in #Bhotekoshi river in Nepal. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their near and dear ones.”

“Concerned to know that so many Indians are uncontactable following the tragedy. Praying for the early rescue of those who are missing or uncontactable since the tragedy struck. Urge authorities to ensure swift rescue of those who are missing and praying Lord to give the families enough strength during this tragic hour,” wrote Patnaik who happens to be the Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly. 

Three Odias, including an Australia-based couple and a 20-year-old woman from Mayurbhanj were among three Odias reported missing after devastating floods in Nepal, as officials stepped up efforts to trace hundreds of people missing across Nepal and Tibet following a deadly Himalayan flood disaster.

A wall of mud and rock collapsed into a Himalayan river on Wednesday triggering flash floods and leaving over 330 dead and hundreds missing on both sides of the Nepal-China border.

The State Government has set up a round-the-clock control room (7428135044, 8527580245, 011-23012807) at its guest house in Delhi to assist people from the State stranded or in distress in Nepal.