At least 384 tourists and trekkers, of whom 291 are foreign nationals, were reported missing on Wednesday as flash floods in the Rasuwa district, close to the Tibet border, killed at least eight and snapped links in the affected regions, Radio Nepal reported.
According to a preliminary list of the Nepal Tourism Board, there are as many as 105 Indians in the list apart from nationals of Britain, America, Malaysia, Australia, South Africa and the Netherlands, while there are also 93 people of Nepal.
The flash flood flowed through the Bhotekoshi River at approximately 8:30 AM local time, and torrents of water and debris hit the villages and destroyed the roads and bridges and others infrastructures in the locality.
The telecommunication system in parts of Rasuwa was disrupted in the flash flood, making it difficult to locate or determine the exact condition and status of tourists being reported as missing.
According to the Tourism Board, it is working with the Tourist Police and stakeholders in the country to identify the whereabouts and status of tourists reported missing. Rescue missions were being undertaken to reach the affected locals as well as trekkers and tourists; however, adverse conditions have hampered the efforts and process for rescue.
The latest catastrophe in Nepal has brought special panic, as several tourists from foreign nations are reported missing; they were trekkers and travelling in northern border regions, which are a favourite spot for all foreign tourists.
