Tharoor clarifies ‘drama’ remark; says it didn’t mean that, ‘I regret the choice of a word’

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has clarified his use of the word “drama” while describing the devastating Nepal floods, saying he intended it to mean a situation involving intensely clashing forces but regretted choosing a word that could be easily misunderstood.

Shashi Tharoor responded to criticism over his use of the word “drama” in an earlier post about the devastating floods in Nepal.

In a post on X, Tharoor said the word did not necessarily mean something theatrical and pointed to another dictionary meaning — “a state, situation or series of events involving intensely clashing forces”.

He said that was the sense in which he had used the word.

However, Tharoor added that he regretted the choice of the word because it could easily be misinterpreted, particularly while referring to a disaster that has caused deaths and widespread destruction.

What did Tharoor originally say?

Tharoor had posted that he flew to Kathmandu without knowing about the events that had unfolded in the hills and caused catastrophic damage.

His post referred to the sudden flash floods in Nepal's Rasuwa district near the Tibet border.

After reaching Kathmandu, he said he became aware of the scale of the disaster, including the deaths and large number of people reported missing.

He also expressed concern for the victims and their families, including Indian tourists travelling in Nepal and towards Kailash-Mansarovar.

Nepal floods devastate border areas

The flash floods struck northern Nepal near the Tibet border, causing extensive destruction along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems.

The disaster swept away homes, roads and bridges and left several areas difficult to access.

Rescue teams have been using helicopters and ground operations to locate survivors and evacuate people stranded in affected areas.

The disaster has also affected foreign tourists, including Indians, with authorities continuing efforts to establish the whereabouts of those still missing.

Tharoor said he supported the Indian government's decision to provide relief assistance to Nepal. He said Nepal required all the assistance it could receive as rescue and relief operations continued.

India has since stepped up humanitarian assistance and coordinated with Nepalese authorities to rescue and trace Indian nationals affected by the floods.