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Thirty US lawmakers have asked Marco Rubio to intensify efforts to find Americans missing after Nepal's flash floods. The push reflects mounting concern over a disaster that has killed more than 1,300 people and strained search operations.
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Washington,UPDATED: Sep 9, 2026 00:04 IST
Thirty US lawmakers, including five Indian-Americans, have written to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to use every available resource to ensure the safety and recovery of American citizens affected by the flash floods in Nepal.
At least 75 US citizens are missing after the August 26 floods, which have left more than 1,300 people dead. The lawmakers also asked the State Department to give daily updates to the families of those missing and to deploy high-altitude assets and thermal or infrared drones for search operations.
The lawmakers who signed the letter include Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar and Pramila Jayapal. Several Indian-Americans are among the missing US citizens in the Nepal floods, which hit the Rasuwa region, a key transit point for the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage.
"We support the Department's announcement of USD 500,000 in assistance through its global award with Catholic Relief Services to support emergency shelter, relief items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance, as well as the USD 3.6 million in humanitarian assistance announced on August 29," the lawmakers wrote.
"Nonetheless, given the unprecedented loss of life and countless missing persons, we urge the Department to do much more," they said. They also urged Rubio to deploy a Disaster Assistance Response Team to affected communities. "These elite teams can lead the US government's disaster response, identify emerging needs, and coordinate with local authorities and partner organisations," the lawmakers said.
The lawmakers also asked the State Department to continue diplomatic outreach to Nepal, China and donor countries to help secure updates about missing American citizens for their family members. In their letter, they called for a stronger US response as search efforts continue after the devastating floods in Nepal.
With PTI Inputs
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Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Sep 9, 2026 00:04 IST
