At least 300 Indian nationals are among the thousands of people reported missing following devastating flash floods in Nepal, with most of the missing Indians believed to have been travelling as pilgrims to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal confirmed the figure on Thursday, 27 August, while speaking at the NDTV World Anvesha Summit in Kathmandu. He said the disaster in the Rasuwa region had claimed at least 160 lives so far, while a large number of people remained unaccounted for.
The scale of the destruction has raised serious concerns over the safety of foreign nationals who were in the affected area when the floods struck. Khanal described the situation as an exceptionally severe disaster, saying that several settlements had been devastated within a matter of hours.
Rasuwa, a mountainous district in northern Nepal, is particularly significant for pilgrims travelling towards the Kailash-Mansarovar region. Its location along an established route means that Indian pilgrims and other foreign visitors were present in the area when the disaster occurred. The sudden flooding left many people cut off and disrupted communication with those travelling through the region.
Khanal said the Nepalese authorities were attempting to establish contact with the missing Indian nationals and determine their whereabouts. The government is also maintaining communication with diplomatic missions representing other countries to coordinate efforts concerning the safety and welfare of foreign citizens affected by the disaster.
The immediate priority, according to the minister, is rescue and emergency relief. Authorities are focusing on reaching people stranded in affected areas, searching for those who remain missing and delivering essential supplies to communities facing the consequences of the floods.
India has also responded to the disaster with emergency assistance. Khanal expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for sending relief supplies promptly as Nepal confronts the crisis.
The disaster has created particularly difficult conditions for rescue operations because of the rugged terrain and the disruption to access routes in affected areas. In mountainous regions, sudden flooding can quickly damage roads and bridges, making it harder for rescue teams to reach isolated communities and travellers.
The number of missing Indian nationals remains a major concern as authorities continue their search and rescue operations. Officials are expected to provide further information as communication is restored and search teams reach areas that have remained inaccessible since the floods struck.
For now, Nepalese authorities are concentrating on the two most urgent tasks: locating missing people and providing immediate assistance to those affected. The presence of hundreds of Indian nationals among those reported missing has also made coordination between Nepalese authorities and Indian diplomatic officials a central part of the ongoing response.
