More than 100 Indians are among nearly 500 people reported missing in Nepal after flash floods in the Bhote Koshi River hit the Rasuwa region near the Tibet border.
It all happened within minutes on the morning of Wednesday the 26th of August 2026.
Security officials said that so far, 46 bodies have been recovered from the flash flood hit areas. They said, at least 93 people have been rescued from different parts of the affected areas.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, NTB, the missing people include foreign tourists and Nepali citizens.
Officials said, the missing people include at least 105 Indians and 37 NRIs, with most of them headed for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in Tibet.
They said, missing foreign nationals are from several countries, including United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa and the Netherlands.
The flood reportedly surged through the Bhote Koshi River at around 9 am local time affecting Rasuwa and Dhading districts.
It then spread to Dhading, Nuwakot and Chitawan districts, damaging at least four permanent bridges and few temporary ones.
Preliminary information suggests that the flash flood was caused by an earthquake triggering an avalanche with melted snow pouring into the Bhote Koshi river.
The flash floods in the Bhote Koshi River caused a major disruption in the Rasuwa region, triggering concerns over the safety of tourists and other people present in the affected areas.
Authorities and rescue agencies are continuing efforts to assess the situation and establish the whereabouts of those reported missing.
The Nepal Tourism Board has also issued emergency contact numbers for tourists and their families seeking information or assistance.
The emergency contacts include the toll-free number 1234, the hotline 1144 and the Tourist Police number 9851289445.
The tourism board urged tourists in the affected areas to remain calm, stay informed through official channels and follow all safety instructions issued by the authorities.
In view of the situation, Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah has consulted with federal parliamentarians from the affected areas.
The discussion focused on the damage caused by the flash flood, the condition of coastal settlements, and rescue and relief efforts.
Earlier in the day, Balendra Shah had convened a meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management to review the situation in the flood-affected areas and the progress of rescue, search and relief efforts.
When last reports came in late in the evening, search and rescue operations are underway, and further details are awaited.
India has dispatched 10 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and essential medicines to support Nepal which faced devastating floods today.
