Why did Tharoor’s Nepal flood post spark a social media backlash?

New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is currently in Kathmandu, has faced criticism on social media over his description of the devastating Nepal flash floods as “drama that had taken place in the hills”.

At the same time, the Thiruvananthapuram MP has stepped up efforts to help trace more than 130 Indians reported missing in the floods, including a number of Malayalis.

Tharoor travelled to Kathmandu for a series of engagements but found himself dealing with the aftermath of the disaster and families waiting for information about their missing relatives.

What did Shashi Tharoor say in his post?

Tharoor expressed concern over the devastation in Nepal in a post on X after arriving in Kathmandu.

“Took off for Kathmandu yesterday, blissfully unaware of the drama that had taken place in the hills and caused such catastrophic damage,” he said.

He then described the flash floods that struck northern Nepal’s Rasuwa district near the Tibet border, saying they had caused widespread destruction along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers.

Tharoor said experts had suggested that global warming and/or an earthquake in Tibet may have caused a large chunk of a glacier to break off and fall into the valley.

The Congress leader said he learned after arriving in Kathmandu about the loss of life and the large number of people who remained missing.

Raging floodwaters destroyed at least 19 motorable bridges, washed away around 40 km of the Betrawati-Rasuwagadhi highway and severely damaged eight operational hydropower projects, he said.

Tharoor also welcomed the Indian government’s decision to provide relief assistance to Nepal.

“I fully support the Indian government's immediate pledge of relief assistance. Nepal needs all the help it can get,” he said.

He expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, including Indian tourists and pilgrims caught in the disaster.

“My heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones, who include large numbers of Indian tourists, including a hundred performing the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. Prayers for the missing; may they be rescued soon,” Tharoor said.

Why did Tharoor face backlash?

While Tharoor’s post largely focused on the scale of the disaster and the need for assistance, his use of the word “drama” drew criticism on social media.

Several users questioned whether describing the deadly floods as “drama” was appropriate, particularly given the loss of life and the number of people reported missing.

“Was nature's fury a 'drama'?” one user asked, accusing Tharoor of being insensitive in his choice of words.

Another user referred to Tharoor as a “wordsmith” and questioned whether the use of “drama” was appropriate in the context.

An X user described the phrase “unaware of the drama” as a “poor choice of words for someone with such a rich vocabulary”.

Another post mocked the choice of the word, asking: “Drama?? You are a wordsmith and this is what you came up with?”

The criticism centred specifically on the wording of the post, even as Tharoor’s broader message expressed concern for the victims and support for relief efforts.

Tharoor steps up efforts to trace missing Indians

Meanwhile, Tharoor has taken up the issue of Indians reported missing in the floods with authorities in Nepal.

He said more than 130 Indians had been reported missing, including a number of Malayalis.

Tharoor said he had raised the matter with the Indian Ambassador in Kathmandu and senior Nepali authorities and had shared details of untraced Malayali travellers compiled by NORKA-Roots and forwarded by the Kerala Chief Minister’s Office.

“As indicated this morning, I am in Kathmandu, where I had travelled for a series of engagements, and have found myself here as Nepal reels from the Bhote-Koshi flash floods. Over 130 Indians are reported missing, among them a number of Malayalis. My thoughts are with every family waiting for news,” he said in a subsequent X post.

“Since I am on the ground, I have taken the matter up at the highest level available to me here, with our Ambassador and with senior Nepali authorities, and have shared the details of the untraced Malayali travelers compiled by NORKA-Roots and forwarded by the Chief Minister's Office. I will keep pressing until each of them is accounted for,” he added.

Tharoor also shared helpline numbers for families in Kerala who are unable to contact relatives in Nepal.

Families can contact NORKA/Kerala CMO at 9447111844 and 9747132147.

He also shared the Embassy of India in Kathmandu numbers +977 9851316807 and +977 9709107500, saying both are available on WhatsApp.

Tharoor urged people seeking information or assistance to tag his office in posts on X or send direct messages so that his office could help coordinate with authorities and follow up on the missing persons.

Nepal floods: Death toll rises

Meanwhile, the death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River near the Nepal-China border has risen to 258, while 910 people remain missing or out of contact, according to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

Search, rescue and relief operations continued on Thursday.

According to NDRRMA’s latest Search, Rescue and Relief Update, issued up to 2 pm local time on Thursday, Chitwan reported the highest number of recovered bodies, with 108.

The district-wise figures include 27 bodies recovered in Dhading, 12 in Nuwakot, two in Rasuwa, 20 in Gorkha, 62 in Nawalparasi East, 12 in Tanahun, 108 in Chitwan and 15 in Nawalparasi West.

The floods have caused extensive damage to roads, bridges and infrastructure, while families in Nepal and neighbouring countries continue to wait for information about those who remain missing.