Approximately 320 Indian nationals remain missing following a catastrophic flash flood that struck regions near the Nepal-Tibet border earlier this week. Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for India’s External Affairs Ministry, confirmed on Friday that these individuals are currently uncontactable. While many of these travelers were on a pilgrimage to the sacred Mount Kailash site in Tibet, rescue operations are actively underway for those affected.
Despite the high number of missing persons, there has been some progress in locating stranded citizens. At least 400 Indians are confirmed safe on the Chinese side of the border, and 96 individuals who were previously stranded have successfully crossed into Nepal by land. Jaiswal noted that authorities are working to evacuate those who have reached safety and are coordinating further assistance.
To bolster relief efforts, India is dispatching a specialized tunnel rescue team along with an additional flight carrying essential supplies. Furthermore, a portable, prefabricated bridge has been deployed to Nepal to help reconnect areas severed by the flood damage. These logistical measures aim to restore access to isolated regions and facilitate ongoing search and rescue operations.
The scale of the disaster is vast, with Chinese state media reporting at least five fatalities and 558 people missing in Tibet’s Gyirong County alone. Chinese officials noted that 260 of those missing are foreign nationals, while nearly 100 Chinese citizens remain unaccounted for on the Nepal side of the border.
The international community is grappling with a significant number of missing travelers. The US State Department reported that 90 Americans are currently unaccounted for in the region, though three have been rescued and no deaths have been confirmed. Other nations have also reported substantial figures: 55 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 39 Australians, 33 British citizens, 25 Canadians, and nine South Koreans working on a local hydropower project are among the missing.
Further reports from the Nepal Tourism Board and various embassies indicate that eight Singaporeans, eight Germans, eight Russians, six South Africans, and six Latvians are missing. Additionally, five Japanese tourists—a couple and their children—and five New Zealanders are unaccounted for.
The list of missing foreign nationals continues with four French citizens, three Belgians, three Spaniards, and two individuals each from Italy, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Single cases of missing citizens have been reported from Belarus, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Serbia, and Sweden. The report also notes that it said it was not aware of any US deaths. The report also notes that in addition to one Ukrainian woman travelling with a foreign tour group, the ministry said, the number includes two tourist groups of 47 and seven people. The report also notes that the Australian government said 39 Australians were missing.