More than 100 Indians are among hundreds of tourists reported missing in Nepal after flash floods struck the Rasuwa region on Wednesday morning. The floods were triggered by the Bhote Koshi River, according to an initial update from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
As per the preliminary information, 384 tourists are currently unaccounted for. This includes 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens.
Among the foreign tourists, 105 are from India. Travellers from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa and the Netherlands are also among those reported missing.
The Nepal Tourism Board has said that these numbers are not final and are still being checked. Officials are coordinating with travel agencies, local authorities and other concerned departments to confirm the details.
The board also said that the nationalities of some of the missing travellers have not yet been established.
According to the initial information, the tourists who are missing were travelling through nine different travel agencies.
The tourism board said the details are being cross-checked with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies.
The sudden floods in the Bhote Koshi River have badly affected parts of the Rasuwa region and disrupted normal movement in the area. The situation has raised serious concerns over the safety of tourists and local residents caught in the affected areas.
Posting on X, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRMMA) wrote, “The local levels affected by the Rasuwa flood have been declared disaster-stricken areas for three months. Wednesday’s emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers has also decided to arrange for immediate free health treatment for the injured persons.”
“Travelers are requested not to travel and to refrain from doing so on the Prithvi Highway, Galchhi-Nuwakot-Rasuwa-Syaphrubesi Road, and Mugling-Narayangadh Road, and local levels and the administration are requested to impose a complete halt on movement to and fro at the aforementioned locations,” it added.
Nepal floods trigger alert in India
As flash floods wreaked havoc in Nepal, authorities in India stepped up preparations to deal with the situation that could arise due to the heavy flow of water downstream.
A sudden flood in the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday left at least seven people dead, while several others were reported missing. The flooding also caused extensive damage in the affected areas, prompting authorities in neighbouring regions of India to intensify monitoring and precautionary measures.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said that a high-level committee has been constituted to continuously monitor the developing situation.
“A high-level team has been constituted. The Chief Secretary and the DGP are monitoring this, and I am also holding a meeting immediately. If necessary, I will go there myself,” he told reporters.
In view of reports regarding a possible Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Nepal and the possibility of rising water levels in rivers flowing through Bihar, West Champaran District Magistrate Taranjot Singh directed officials and executive engineers to take all necessary precautionary measures in villages located along the Nepal border and in areas situated on the banks of the Gandak River.