India has stepped up its rescue and relief efforts following the devastating floods in Nepal, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) setting up a special control room to assist Indian nationals affected by the disaster.

The MEA said that 21 Indian nationals from Tamil Nadu, who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, have been rescued in Nepal. The ministry is also working with the Nepalese authorities to trace and assist other Indians who remain stranded or out of contact.

According to the latest figures cited in the updates, the disaster has left at least 270 people dead and 826 missing in Nepal, while three people have died and 558 remain missing in Tibet. The floods have also caused major damage to infrastructure, with dozens of bridges destroyed and nearly 40 kilometres of roads damaged, making rescue operations more difficult.

MEA Says Upper Districts Remain the Main Challenge

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that connectivity with Kathmandu remains available, but reaching people in the upper districts affected by the floods is proving more difficult.

"We have continuous connectivity with Kathmandu, so people can arrive via that route; we shouldn't face any issues there. The real challenge lies in evacuating people from the upper districts where the tragedy struck. As of now, no code name has been given yet."

The ministry said that 288 Indian nationals remain out of contact. These include several groups stranded in different parts of Nepal.

The groups include 73 people working on the Trishuli-1 power project, along with two groups of 37 and 49 nationals from Tamil Nadu who travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Samrat and Fly Everest Travels.

Another group includes 32 Indian nationals from West Bengal who travelled with the help of Samrat Travels and are in Timure, Rasuwa district. The remaining groups include 61 Indian nationals from different states and 33 Indian nationals from Kerala.

"The first group of 73 people who are working on the Trishuli-1 power project. Then, two separate groups of 37 and 49 nationals from Tamil Nadu, who traveled for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Samrat and Fly Everest Travels. There is a group of 32 Indian nationals from West Bengal who traveled with the help of Samrat Travels in Timure, which is in Rasuwa district."

"Then, a group of 61 Indian nationals from different states and then a group of 33 Indian nationals from Kerala. These are five major groups who comprise, by and large, 288 people that we are talking about," he added.

India Sends Relief Support to Nepal

India has also continued its humanitarian assistance to Nepal as rescue teams work to reach affected communities. The second relief flight carrying 37.5 tons of HADR material, essential medicines and food packets has been sent to support relief operations.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is coordinating with the Nepali government to help evacuate Indian nationals and support ongoing rescue efforts. Emergency helplines have also been activated for Indians seeking assistance or information.

The Indian Embassy in Nepal has issued the helpline numbers +977 985 131 6807 and +977 970 910 7500.

The Nepal Tourism Board has also shared emergency contacts, including the toll-free number 1234, hotline 1144 and Tourist Police number 9851289445.

With roads and bridges damaged across affected areas, rescue teams continue to face difficult conditions. India has said its response reflects the spirit of ‘Neighbourhood First’, while efforts continue to locate stranded and missing Indian nationals and provide support to Nepal during the crisis.

GRB Dairy Foods has launched a new campaign that gives consumers a closer look at the science behind its GRB Ghee. The campaign highlights the advanced testing methods used to check the purity and composition of the product, with a focus on Gas Chromatography (GC) technology.

The multilingual campaign will be rolled out across digital and social media platforms in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, Odia, and Bengali. Gas Chromatography is a high-precision laboratory technique used in food science to study the chemical composition of products. For ghee, the process creates a unique “molecular fingerprint”, helping authenticate its composition and check whether it meets GRB's quality standards.

Through a campaign film and digital content, GRB Dairy Foods aims to make this scientific process easier for consumers to understand. The campaign focuses on how technology and expertise work together to maintain the purity and consistency expected from the brand.

Balakarthik Balasubramaniam, Director, GRB Dairy Foods, who has worked in food processing and product innovation, said that much of the work that supports food quality happens behind the scenes. The new campaign is an effort to bring that process closer to consumers.

While taking about the new milestone, he said, "Food science has made remarkable advances over the years, but much of that knowledge remains confined to laboratories and manufacturing facilities. We saw an opportunity to bridge that gap by introducing consumers to Gas Chromatography which is an advanced analytical technique used globally to evaluate the purity and composition of ghee. While the science behind it is sophisticated, the objective is simple: helping consumers better understand the rigorous processes that support the products they bring into their homes. We believe that greater awareness leads to greater confidence, and this campaign is a step towards making the science of quality more accessible to consumers in India and across our international markets."

The company has also recently introduced an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrument at its Central Laboratory in Hosur. The technology is used for food safety testing of metal contaminants and adds another layer to the company's quality testing process.

Together, the GC campaign and the ICP-MS investment reflect GRB Dairy Foods' focus on using science and technology as part of its quality and consumer trust efforts. After four decades of building its presence in the food industry, the company is now bringing more attention to the processes that support its products. Because at GRB, purity has never been a promise made lightly and now, consumers can see exactly why.

The Singapore EDITION is bringing the summer season to a close with The Summer EDITION, a series of three gatherings taking place throughout September 2026. Across the hotel’s well-known spaces, guests can look forward to a garden party, a tropical disco brunch and a classic movie screening by the pool.

The programme begins with The Summer EDITION Garden Party on Saturday, 19 September 2026, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the hotel’s lower ground.

The evening will feature live food stations serving freshly shucked oysters, Jamón Ibérico, porchetta, Wagyu beef skewers, Wagyu brisket tacos, seafood paella, Mediterranean mezze, charcuterie and artisanal cheeses. A dessert corner will bring seasonal favourites with citrus and fresh fruits. Champagne, cocktails and beer on tap will also be available throughout the evening.

The popular ‘Ring-for-Champagne’ wall will return, while DJ Stephen Day will provide chilled beats. Guests are encouraged to dress in yellow and orange, with the event open to guests aged 21 and above.

The celebrations continue with The Summer EDITION Tropical Disco Brunch on Saturday, 26 September, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. DJ Aldrin will bring evergreen disco hits to the terrace, while Josper grills and classic cocktails take centre stage. A Spritz station will offer the classic Aperol Spritz along with locally inspired creations.

The brunch will feature chilled seafood including Maine lobster, scallop, tiger prawns and mussels, along with tuna and salmon sashimi. From the Josper grill, guests can enjoy Wagyu beef, tiger prawns, Iberico pork jowl and lamb shoulder confit. Salads, appetisers, Mediterranean mezze and artisanal cheeses from Les Frères Marchand will complete the spread.

Guests are encouraged to arrive in disco shimmer and summer colours. The brunch is open to guests aged 18 and above. The series concludes with The Summer EDITION Movie at The ROOF on Sunday, 27 September. Set beside the hotel’s 43-metre pool, the evening will feature a silent screening of the classic Roman Holiday.

Starting at 6:30 p.m., guests can enjoy an Italian-inspired spread including Amalfi orecchiette with crab meat in a tomato-based sauce, Prosciutto di Parma with melon, mortadella and stracciatella sandwiches. Pass-around fritto misto, bomboloni tiramisù gelato sandwiches and caramel macadamia or smoked bacon and parmesan popcorn will accompany the film. The movie will screen from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., with audio delivered through headphones. Guests can also relax on a hammock float in the pool, sponsored by AcquaBoss, an Australian brand known for floats made using sustainable, eco-friendly materials.

Children below 10 years can enter the Movie at The ROOF experience for free, giving families another way to enjoy the final gathering of The Summer EDITION.