The Bhotekoshi River flood on August 26 has left 587 foreign tourists from 34 countries unaccounted for, the Department of Tourism reports. The incident occurred as visitors traveled for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage or the Janai Purnima festival. Among the missing are 256 men, 329 women, and two individuals whose gender is unspecified.
Indian nationals form the largest group of missing foreigners, with 184 unaccounted for. They are followed by 67 Americans, 55 Malaysians, and 54 Ukrainians. Other affected nationalities include 33 Australians, 30 Canadians, 32 Britons, five Japanese, one Finnish, four French, eight Germans, one Hungarian, two Irish, one Israeli, one Lithuanian, one Swedish, 33 Latvians, one Swiss, two Italians, 26 Chinese, one Vietnamese, one Estonian, and two Polish. The flood also swept away 188 Nepali tourists.
Rescue teams have recovered 307 foreign tourists, including 254 men and 53 women. The Nepali Army believes only 121 people remain trapped in hydropower project tunnels, though access to those areas remains difficult. In total, 13,396 people have been rescued from affected regions, while 3,533 are staying in 39 holding centers across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts.
The flood has resulted in 1,356 deaths, with 98 bodies identified and returned to families. Another 4,996 people remain missing after being swept away by the rising waters. Medical teams have treated 6,672 individuals for injuries and flood-related illnesses.
Local infrastructure has been overwhelmed, requiring collaboration between security agencies, local governments, and NGOs to handle search-and-rescue operations, medical care, and relief distribution. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) leads these efforts, though the large number of missing tourists—especially foreigners, has added complexity to recovery.
Many travelers were in the area for religious or cultural events, which has made tracking their movements challenging. The sudden flood left little time for evacuation, and many were caught in remote locations with poor communication. Authorities expect the death toll to increase as rescue teams reach more difficult areas.
The disaster has highlighted weaknesses in Nepal’s disaster preparedness, particularly for foreign visitors who may not recognize local risks. The government has requested international aid, though coordinating assistance across affected districts remains a significant challenge.
Search operations continue, with teams focusing on high-risk zones where survivors may still be trapped. The Nepali Army and NDRRMA are prioritizing access to blocked tunnels and isolated areas where communication has been cut off.