UNITED NATIONS, N. Y., April 22—India has requested United Nations assistance for half‐million refugees from East Pakistan.

The request was made this evening to Secretary General Thant by Samar Sen, India's chief delegate.

Mr. Thant leaves tomorrow for Europe and Mr. Sen indicated that he acted now so that the Secretary General would have the opportunity to consult Prince Sadruddin Khan, the United Nations High Com missioner for Refugees, whose headquarters is in Geneva.

Funds for an initial assistance program could come from the High Commissioner's emergency reserves and be augmented later by contributions from governments, according to officials here.

Mr. Sen said his Government had been caring for the refugees without aid but was compelled to seek help as the number continued to grow.

Earlier today, Dr. Marcel Naville, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, had meetings with Mr. Thant and George Bush, the United States delegate, to discuss Pakistan developments, and the plight of prisoners of the Vietnam conflict.

The Pakistan Government is being urged to permit international assistance to victims of the fighting in East Pakistan, but has refused help.

United Nations sources said that Mr. Thant had been urging Pakistan to allow relief efforts and that both the United Nations and the Red Cross were prepared to act.