A severe flash flood triggered by a glacier collapse in Nepal and Tibet has resulted in hundreds of foreign nationals, predominantly Indians, going missing. Many were undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra when the disaster struck the Rasuwagadhi area. The Nepalese government and Indian authorities are engaged in urgent search and rescue operations, and helplines have been established to assist families of those affected. The scale of the disaster has left over a thousand people missing, with continued efforts to establish contact and provide aid to displaced individuals.

A severe flash flood triggered by a glacier collapse in Nepal and Tibet has resulted in hundreds of foreign nationals, predominantly Indians, going missing. Many were undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra when the disaster struck the Rasuwagadhi area. The Nepalese government and Indian authorities are engaged in urgent search and rescue operations, and helplines have been established to assist families of those affected. The scale of the disaster has left over a thousand people missing, with continued efforts to establish contact and provide aid to displaced individuals.

A severe flash flood triggered by a glacier collapse in Nepal and Tibet has resulted in hundreds of foreign nationals, predominantly Indians, going missing. Many were undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra when the disaster struck the Rasuwagadhi area. The Nepalese government and Indian authorities are engaged in urgent search and rescue operations, and helplines have been established to assist families of those affected. The scale of the disaster has left over a thousand people missing, with continued efforts to establish contact and provide aid to displaced individuals.

Nearly 500 foreign nationals, including 300 Indians, are reportedly missing following the severe flash flood that struck parts of Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday. The flood, triggered by a glacier collapse near Lhende Khola, has killed nearly 160 people while over a thousand others remain missing.

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, while explaining the impact of the flood, said most of the foreign nationals reported missing were travelling through the affected Rasuwagadhi area for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Most of the missing Indians are also reportedly Mansarovar pilgrims.

According to Khanal, the Nepal government is trying to establish contact with around 300 missing Indian citizens. He said the foreign ministry is in touch with the embassies of other countries and assured that the safety and well-being of foreign nationals are equally important to Nepal as those of Nepali citizens.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and several states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, have set up helplines for affected Indians and their families.

Samrat Tours and Travel agency said that at least 59 Indian pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are missing. This includes a 32-member group from Kolkata.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said that 5 people from Bengaluru who had travelled to Nepal are missing. As many as 53 Keralites, including children, are also stranded in Nepal.

Tamil Nadu government officials said that 37 of the 57 tourists from the state, who were reportedly travelling to a temple in the Himalayas, were still missing.

The Isha Foundation, a Coimbatore-based non-profit organisation, claimed that 77 of its members, who were at an immigration centre in the flood-hit area, remain unaccounted for. Founder Jaggi Vasudev, popularly known as Sadhguru, added that while 495 people had returned safely, there has been no official communication concerning the whereabouts of those at the immigration office.

The Nepal government, too, later confirmed that the immigration centre concerned could not be contacted. Sadhguru, who is currently in Tibet, reportedly attempted to travel to the disaster site but could not reach the location as all roads were blocked.

Minister Khanal has called for immediate attention to relief and rescue operations. He expressed his gratitude to India for the prompt relief supplies sent in from New Delhi.

Nepal Army and private helicopters have been deployed for search and rescue operations. Temporary shelters are set up, and food, water and medical aid are available at army barracks for the displaced families.

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