The Nepal Tourism Board says 644 tourists are still out of contact following the devastating Bhotekoshi floods in Nepal.

Around 178 Indian tourists remain missing according to Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson of the board.

Additionally, 127 Nepali tourists, 53 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 65 Americans, 35 Australians, and 33 UK nationals remain out of contact, he tells the BBC.

“We are coordinating with the relevant authorities for their search and rescue,” Sharma says.

Deputy Superintendent of Nepal Tourist Police Bisworaj Adhikari tells the BBC that they are still collecting information from tour operators about the tourists who had travelled to the area.

The area impacted by the flood includes a popular route towards the Hindu pilgrimage site of Kailash Mansarovar, which is located in Tibet. It also includes the popular trekking area of Langtang and a religious site called Gosain Kunda.

Adhikari says that around two dozen tourists had been rescued and brought back from the Rasuwa district to the neighbouring Nuwakot district on Thursday. He could not confirm their nationalities.

Earlier, the Secretariat of the Prime Minister said that the Nepali Army had rescued 21 Indian nationals who were being brought back to Kathmandu.

Source: BBC
-Agencies