Scores of Indian Tourists Missing After Nepal Flash Flood; Rescue Ops Underway
Dozens of Indian tourists are missing after a flash flood in Nepal. Several states have set up helplines as rescue operations continue.
A devastating flash flood that struck a key border crossing between Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday has left scores of Indian tourists missing. The disaster has affected travellers from several states, including Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, with many families still awaiting news of their loved ones.
In Tamil Nadu, a group of 57 pilgrims from Hosur, travelling via a Kumbakonam-based agency, has been caught in the disaster. While 20 members have been confirmed safe, the whereabouts of the others, including three from Hosur, remain unknown. Family members have expressed frustration over non-functional helplines and a lack of clear information from the tour operator.
The Isha Foundation has also lost contact with an 80-member international group returning from the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage. The group's leader sent a message confirming they had reached an immigration office just minutes before the flood struck. Foundation head Jaggi Vasudev stated that the building, which he had used a week earlier, was washed away. The group includes nationals from the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK.
An Odisha-based couple, Sandeep Mohapatra and Siddharthi Kumari Sahu, who were on a 12-day holiday from Australia, are also among the missing. Their last location was detected near the immigration centre. The Odisha government has set up a 24x7 control room in New Delhi and is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Nepal.
A team of six football players and their coach from Odisha, who were in Nepal for a match, have been reported safe. Other residents from the state are also reported to be safe and returning to India.
From Andhra Pradesh, seven people have been identified as stranded or missing. Four have been traced, while efforts are on to locate three others, including a member of the Isha Foundation group. The state government has issued advisories and set up emergency control rooms.
Meanwhile, 53 people from Kerala, including children, are reported stranded but safe. The state's NORKA ROOTS agency is in constant touch with the Indian Embassy for updates. A 35-member group was reportedly stranded in a forest while travelling to Pokhara.
Various state governments have released helplines and are working with the MEA and Indian Embassy to locate, rescue, and assist all affected individuals.