Key Takeaways:
- 607 foreign tourists from 34 countries missing, including 189 Indians, 65 Americans and 55 Malaysians
- 310 rescued so far, while 13 others have re-established contact
- 188 Nepali tourists also missing, many as support staff for foreign groups
- Search and relief operations intensified by local authorities and security agencies
As many as 607 foreign tourists from 34 countries have gone missing after the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa, according to the Department of Tourism.
Information Officer Suraj Ghimire told RSS the missing tourists had travelled to Gosainkunda for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage and the Janai Purnima fair through various travel companies.
The missing include 269 men, 329 women and nine people whose gender has not been identified. Indian nationals account for the largest group, with 189 missing. Other missing tourists include 65 Americans, 55 Malaysians, 54 Ukrainians, 37 Chinese, 33 Australians, 33 Latvians, 32 Britons and 30 Canadians. Smaller groups include nationals from Germany, Russia, Japan, France, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Vietnam and Switzerland.
In addition, 188 Nepali tourists are missing, including 161 men and 27 women who had travelled as support staff or visited Gosainkunda and Kailash Mansarovar.
Rescue operations are continuing. So far, 310 foreign tourists-258 men and 52 women-have been rescued, while 13 people have re-established contact after initially being out of reach.
Local authorities and security agencies have intensified the search for those still missing and continued relief operations.