A North East MP has voiced concern in Parliament for a constituent caught up in devastating floods in Nepal.
Anirban Battacharyya has lived in Newbiggin by the-Sea for decades but was visiting family in India.
Anirban disappeared in “horrific” floods while travelling from Kolkata to Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, and has not been heard from since.
Flash floods on August 26 killed at least 1,369 people, while more than 5,000 remained missing.
Despite living in the UK for decades, Anirban remains an Indian citizen, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says it cannot offer support.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday (Thursday, September 11), Ashington and Blyth MP Ian Lavery said: “Anirban Battacharyya is a constituent of mine from Newbiggin who has resided here for more than 60 years and travelled to Kolkata to visit family.
"He left Kolkata intending to travel to Kathmandu, and appears to have been caught in the horrific flooding that has overwhelmed Nepal.
“Numerous attempts made to contact him since have proven unsuccessful. The FCO have been less than helpful, pointing the family to the Indian Consulate, who again have been less than helpful.
“He has lived in this country for 60 years. He is missing.
“Can we have a debate in government time about how the FCO can be more helpful to people who have lived in this country all their lives? Because he hasn’t got a British passport, we can’t help him?”
The floods are thought to have followed a glacier collapse in the Himalayas. Dozens of settlements along the Trishuli River were affected, and a checkpoint on the China-Nepal border was destroyed.
The BBC reports that 33 British citizens are missing in Nepal, while The Guardian says a further 15 are missing in China.
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Responding to Mr Lavery, Leader of the House of Commons and Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell said: “We are working with authorities on the ground to support efforts in this terrible situation, supporting survivors of all nationalities and working to get families information about missing loved ones.
“We’re also in contact with the Indian authorities about the relief efforts. I am disappointed that this hasn’t led to the outcome that my honourable friend seeks.
“I will see if the relevant minister will meet with him to discuss this case and wider issues about what governments can do in what are often terrible circumstances.”
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