Nearly 300 Indians Reported Missing Among Thousands in Nepal Floods, Says Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal

“Town after town was wiped out within hours,” Nepal Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said while describing the devastating impact of the flash floods that struck the country on Wednesday. Speaking at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu, Khanal said the disaster in the Rasuwa region had claimed at least 160 lives, while thousands of people were still unaccounted for. He said authorities were continuing efforts to determine the full scale of the destruction.

“Thousands of families have lost their homes, and many people remain missing,” Khanal said, adding that the government was working to establish the whereabouts of those who had not yet been traced. The minister said nearly 300 Indian nationals were among those reported missing. Most of them were believed to be pilgrims travelling along the route toward Mount Kailash and Mansarovar.

“Nearly 300 Indians have been reported missing, and the government is making efforts to establish contact with them,” Khanal said. He added that approximately 500 foreign nationals in total were currently out of contact. According to the minister, Nepalese authorities were coordinating with foreign embassies to gather information and ensure the safety of missing international visitors. He stressed that the government was treating the safety of foreign nationals with the same priority as that of Nepali citizens.

Khanal described the floods as one of the most severe disasters Nepal has faced in recent years and expressed gratitude to India for quickly providing relief assistance. “At this stage, rescue operations and immediate relief remain the priority,” he said, acknowledging support coming from India and other countries. The Nepalese minister also appealed for continued international support as the country moves from emergency response toward reconstruction. He highlighted tourism as an important part of Nepal’s economic recovery and urged international visitors not to abandon travel plans unnecessarily.

Khanal said that although some areas had been severely affected, much of Nepal remained operational, with several major tourist destinations continuing to welcome visitors. He specifically pointed to Pokhara and the Mount Everest region as areas that remain accessible and safe for tourists. He said continued tourism would provide an important source of income for communities affected by the disaster and help Nepal recover in the coming months. Recalling Nepal’s recovery from previous crises, including the devastating 2015 earthquake, Khanal expressed confidence that the country would once again rebuild and emerge stronger from the latest disaster.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.