KATHMANDU: A total of 261 foreign tourists who went missing after the flash flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa have been rescued.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the tourists were rescued by Saturday evening after being stranded in areas affected by Wednesday morning’s flood.
Nepal Tourism Board Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hikmat Singh Air said that the 261 tourists from 16 countries had gone missing while travelling to Gosainkunda and Kailash Mansarovar through various travel companies.
Of the rescued tourists, 167 are from India, 40 from China, one from Belgium, one from Bulgaria, four from Germany, three from Italy, four from Malta, one from Oman, one from Portugal, two from Russia, two from Spain, two from Switzerland, two from Türkiye, eight from Ukraine and three from the United States.
The Board said 21 additional tourists whose nationalities and identities have not yet been disclosed have also been rescued. Meanwhile, 320 foreign tourists remain unaccounted for following the floods, according to the Nepal Tourism Board.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board, Tourist Police and other tourism-sector stakeholders have intensified search and rescue operations for tourists in the affected areas. The Board said all necessary efforts are being made to evacuate injured and stranded tourists to safety.
The Nepal Tourism Board has urged the public to remain patient and vigilant, emphasizing that tourist safety remains its top priority.
For information or assistance, the board has asked people to contact toll-free number 1234, hotline 1144 or Tourist Police at 9851289445.
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