Nearly 300 Indians Among Thousands Missing After Nepal Floods: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal

Nearly 300 Indian nationals, mostly pilgrims travelling towards the Kailash Mansarovar route, are among thousands of people reported missing after devastating flash floods struck Nepal, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said on Wednesday. Speaking at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu, Khanal said 160 people had died and thousands remained untraced in the disaster in the Rasuwa region.

Khanal described the floods as one of the worst disasters to hit the Himalayan nation in recent times, saying entire towns had been devastated within hours. He said thousands of families had lost their homes and that authorities were still assessing the full scale of the destruction. Rescue teams were continuing efforts to locate missing people and provide immediate assistance to communities affected by the floods.

The foreign minister said around 500 foreign nationals were currently out of contact, including nearly 300 Indians who were travelling through the affected area for the Masarovar pilgrimage. He said the Nepalese government was working to establish contact with the missing Indian nationals and others whose whereabouts remained unknown. The government is also coordinating with embassies of different countries to monitor the safety and wellbeing of foreign nationals.

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Khanal thanked India for the prompt assistance sent by New Delhi following the disaster, saying the immediate priority remained rescue operations and relief. He noted that support and solidarity were coming from several countries as Nepal dealt with the aftermath of the floods. The minister stressed that ensuring the safety of both Nepali citizens and foreign nationals remained a priority for the government.

Khanal also appealed to the international community to remain connected with Nepal and support its recovery, particularly through tourism. He said most parts of the country had not been affected by the floods and that major tourist destinations, including Pokhara and the Mount Everest region, remained open and safe for visitors. He urged tourists to continue visiting Nepal, saying tourism would play an important role in helping the country rebuild in the coming months.

Drawing on Nepal's experience of recovering from earlier disasters, including the devastating 2015 earthquake, Khanal expressed confidence that the country would overcome the latest crisis. He said the government was focused on immediate rescue and relief while also preparing for the longer rebuilding process. The minister urged the global community to stand with Nepal as authorities work to assess the damage and restore affected communities.

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