Nepal Flash Floods: At least 162 people have been confirmed dead, while thousands remain unaccounted for following a massive flash flood that swept through Nepal‘s Rasuwa district. Revealing the severity of the disaster, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal stated that several families have lost their homes completely as the government continues to assess the overall damage caused by the tragedy.
Among those untraced, around 500 foreign nationals have completely lost contact. Foreign Minister Khanal confirmed that approximately 300 of these missing foreign nationals are Indian citizens. The affected region serves as a major transit route for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, leaving a significant number of Indian pilgrims stranded or missing following the deluge.
According to available details, the 500 untraced foreigners include at least 133 Indian citizens, 37 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), and a group of at least 50 Indian devotees on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. The flash flood destroyed local communication infrastructure, severely hampering initial efforts to establish contact with stranded travelers.
Addressing international concerns, Foreign Minister Khanal emphasized that the safety and well-being of foreign citizens remain as high a priority for Nepal as that of its own citizens. The Nepalese government is in continuous contact with foreign embassies. However, official information gathering faces hurdles as local authorities have been unable to establish contact with personnel stationed at the immigration center in the affected zone.
A large group of tourists from Tamil Nadu and members of the Isha Foundation are among those out of touch. Tamil Nadu state officials confirmed that out of 57 tourists from the state, 20 are safe while 37 remain untraced. Additionally, 77 members of the Coimbatore-based non-profit Isha Foundation, who were present at the immigration center, are currently missing. Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru noted that while 495 people have returned safely, there is no official update yet regarding those at the immigration office.
Prominent figures and tourists from other Indian states have also been impacted. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait from Uttar Pradesh, who was traveling by road in Nepal, remains stranded in Pokhara alongside his associates. In a video message, Tikait shared that due to damaged roads, they are leaving their vehicles behind to fly to Kathmandu and subsequently return to Delhi. Meanwhile, out of seven stranded tourists from Maharashtra, four have been confirmed safe while efforts continue to contact the remaining three.
In response to the emergency, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu alongside state governments—including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha—have set up dedicated helplines. The Maharashtra government has established a 24-hour control room, issuing dedicated helpline numbers (1070 / +91-9321587143).
Expressing gratitude, Nepal Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal specially thanked New Delhi for swiftly dispatching relief materials to aid initial response efforts. Recalling past crises, Khanal voiced confidence that Nepal will bounce back just as it recovered from the devastating 2015 earthquake, while appealing to the global community for support in rebuilding efforts. He clarified that major tourist destinations, including Pokhara and Mount Everest, remain safe and open to visitors.
