Kathmandu: A severe flash flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday morning has left the situation critical, with around 384 tourists reported missing, according to an initial list released by the Nepal Tourism Board.
The list includes 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens. Among the missing foreign tourists, 105 are Indian nationals, while another 37 are non-resident Indians (NRIs).
Tourists from Australia, the Netherlands, the US, Malaysia, the UK and South Africa are also reportedly among those missing.
Search and rescue operations underway
According to the Tourism Board, the initial information was collected from 10 major travel agencies. The reported missing tourists include 92 from Trekkers Society, 71 from Samrat Tours and Travels, 55 from Leaf Holiday, 52 from Himalayan Glacier and 31 from Kailash Journey.
Tourist police, local administration and security agencies are currently searching for the missing travellers and working to establish their safety.
The Tourism Board stressed that the list is preliminary and subject to verification, urging families not to panic until the information is fully confirmed.
Tourists currently in affected areas have been advised to remain calm and follow official instructions. For emergency assistance, the reported helpline numbers are 1234 and 1144, while the Tourist Police can be contacted at 9851289445.
