Sixteen Keralites, including one from the eight with whom communication could not be established, returned home to the State in the wake of the devastating flash floods in the Nepal-Tibet border region.

It has been ensured that 45 of those who contacted the help desk set up under the aegis of NoRKA-Roots are safe. They informed relatives that they were safe in Nepal and other places in India and were continuing efforts to return to Keralam, an update from the help desk, set up to provide emergency assistance and information on Keralites stranded in Nepal, said on Saturday night.

Rineeth Mohan from Piravom, Ernakulam, left for Nepal on August 23. At the time of the floods, he was near Pokhara, but when informed of the floods by his relatives he turned back home. While travelling to New Delhi, he lost his phone and was unable to contact relatives. He boarded a train from New Delhi on Thursday and reached Keralam on Saturday afternoon.

A 14-member group from Kochi is among those who have returned. Sruthi Shikhamani from Kakkanad in Kochi who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has also returned. She was in Kathmandu at the time of the floods.

There is no information about seven persons, including four Malayalis who are Australian citizens. Their details have been handed over to the Ministry of External Affairs.

On the directions of the Chief Minister’s Office, NoRKA-Roots has made arrangements for people reaching India from Nepal to travel to Keralam. Contact the NoRKA help desk or the NRK Development Office in Delhi, the NoRKA-Roots statement said.