Our Bureau
Kathmandu
Following the devastating flash floods in Nepal, the Nepal Tourism Board on Thursday said that 178 Indian nationals are among the missing after the devastating flash floods that struck the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha districts a day earlier.
In an update of the situation, it said that “A preliminary agency-wise record received from trekking and travel companies has identified 644 travelers, including 127 Nepali nationals, who were reported missing from the affected area. The information is being verified and cross-checked in coordination with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies.”
The devastating flash floods and landslides along the Nepal-China border claimed many lives after a sudden deluge swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa district, destroying homes, roads, bridges and critical infrastructure.
The flash floods struck the Bhote Koshi River area near the Tibet border on Wednesday, with Rasuwa and neighbouring districts among the worst affected. Nepalese authorities reported extensive destruction, while rescue teams continued searching for survivors and those unaccounted for. Several hydropower projects and bridges were damaged, disrupting transport and communication in the region.
The missing included Indians and non-resident Indians, with many Indian nationals believed to have been travelling towards the Kailash Mansarovar region.
India has responded by offering extensive humanitarian assistance to its neighbouring country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences over the loss of lives, assuring Nepal of India’s full support in rescue and relief operations. India is also sending emergency supplies, including medicines and rations, through Indian Air Force aircraft, while National Disaster Response Force personnel are being prepared for deployment.
Authorities in India have simultaneously stepped up preparedness in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as floodwaters enter downstream areas of the Gandak River. The NDRF has been placed on alert, while border authorities have kept rescue and relief teams ready.