CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Centre and the Government of Tamil Nadu to file status reports within a week detailing the number of persons from the State who travelled to Nepal during the devastating August 26 flash floods and the progress made in tracing those still untraced.
Bench issues timeline for reports
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by A.F. Parvesh Musharaf of Dindigul. The petition sought coordinated action by central and state agencies, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and Nepalese authorities to locate missing persons, including a retired judge of the Madras High Court, Justice V. Sivagnanam.
The court granted one week to the respondent authorities to file the status reports and adjourned the matter for further hearing.
Figures submitted by Tamil Nadu Advocate General
Tamil Nadu Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed the bench that 305 persons from the State had travelled to Nepal during the period of the calamity. Of these, 220 have been rescued so far and returned, he said, adding that "full-fledged efforts" were underway to trace the remaining persons.
"Full-fledged efforts are on to trace the remaining persons," the Advocate General told the court.
The AG also said that family members of the untraced persons, including relatives of the retired judge, had been taken to Kathmandu at the State government's expense to receive first-hand updates on rescue operations and to assist in identifying any rescued people.
Petition details and concerns
The PIL, filed by Musharaf, stated that a group of 57 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry had travelled through a Kumbakonam-based tour operator. The petitioner alleged that the safety of some members of this group remained unknown and that relatives were unable to independently verify their condition.
According to the petition, detailed representations had been submitted to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepalese authorities and the Tamil Nadu government requesting a coordinated search, verification and rescue effort. The petitioner asked the court to direct officials to place on record the number of pilgrims who went to Nepal, the identities of those rescued, and the names of those still missing, and to furnish these details to families.
Practical implications and next steps
The court's direction seeks to consolidate information from multiple agencies so that relatives and the public get a clear picture of rescue progress. Requiring a formal status report from both the Centre and the State is intended to ensure accountability and inter-agency coordination in a cross-border disaster involving Indian nationals.
If the reports are filed as directed, the bench will consider the material during the next hearing and may issue further directions to the Ministry of External Affairs or the State government based on the factual matrix presented.
- Who must report: Central government and Tamil Nadu government.
- Deadline: One week from the court order.
- Information sought: Number of pilgrims, rescued and missing lists, rescue progress and steps taken to locate missing persons.
Data at a glance
| Details | Number |
|---|---|
| State residents who visited Nepal during floods | 305 |
| Rescued and sent back to Tamil Nadu | 220 |
| Members of group from Tamil Nadu/Puducherry mentioned in petition | 57 |
The petition highlights the particular vulnerability of pilgrim groups travelling abroad through private tour operators during sudden natural disasters, and underscores the need for clear communication channels between families, tour operators and official agencies.
The bench has adjourned the matter to the following week after directing the filing of the reports.
Reporting from Chennai.
