A flash flood in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River on August 26 has left 587 foreign tourists from 34 countries unaccounted for as rescue operations persist. The incident occurred while groups traveled for pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar or participated in the Janai Purnima festival. Among those missing, 256 are men, 329 are women, and two individuals’ genders remain unspecified.
The largest affected nationality is 184 Indians, followed by 67 Americans and 55 Malaysians. Other missing tourists include 33 Australians, 32 Britons, 30 Canadians, and smaller numbers from Japan, Russia, and Ukraine, among others. Additionally, 188 Nepalese nationals are also unaccounted for.
Rescue teams have so far recovered 307 foreign tourists, including 254 men and 53 women. A total of 13,396 people have been rescued from flood-affected areas. The Nepali Army reports that 121 individuals remain trapped in hydropower project tunnels, though access remains challenging.
The flood has caused significant destruction, with 1,356 bodies recovered and 4,996 people still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). Of the recovered remains, 98 bodies have been identified and returned to families. Meanwhile, 6,672 individuals have received medical treatment since the disaster.
Search and rescue efforts continue with the involvement of security forces, local governments, and aid organizations. The flood has damaged infrastructure, delayed relief distribution, and left 3,533 displaced individuals sheltering in 39 holding centers across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts.
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs has activated emergency protocols, including the deployment of helicopters and drones to assist in search operations. International embassies have also coordinated with local authorities to provide support for affected tourists and nationals.