Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal confirmed on 27 August that close to 300 Indian nationals — the majority of them pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra — have been reported missing after catastrophic flash floods tore through the Rasuwa region of the Himalayan nation. The official death toll has climbed to 177, with thousands of residents and foreign nationals still untraced.

Scale of the Disaster

Speaking at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu, Khanal described the floods as one of the worst calamities to strike Nepal in recent memory. 'Town after town were wiped out within hours,' he said, adding that thousands of families had lost their homes. Authorities are still working to determine the full extent of the destruction across the affected zones.

In total, around 500 foreign nationals remain out of contact following the disaster, according to the minister. The Nepal government is said to be in active communication with the embassies of all affected countries to establish the safety and whereabouts of missing individuals.

Indian Pilgrims at Risk

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route passes through the flood-hit corridor in the Rasuwa district, placing a significant number of Indian pilgrims directly in the path of the disaster. 'Foreign nationals, including Indians, take the route in the affected area to the Mansarovar Yatra. Close to 300 Indians have been reported missing and the government is trying to establish contact with them,' Khanal said. The Indian government has dispatched relief to Nepal, a gesture the minister publicly acknowledged. 'Government of India has already sent relief. We express gratitude,' he said.

What the Nepal Government Said

Khanal stressed that rescue and immediate relief remain the primary focus at this stage. He praised international solidarity, noting that support had come from across the globe. This comes amid heightened anxiety in India, where families of pilgrims on the yatra route have been seeking information from both governments.

Notably, the death toll figure has already risen from an earlier count of 160 to 177, and officials have not ruled out further revision as rescue teams reach more remote pockets of the Rasuwa region.

Nepal's Appeal to the World

Beyond the immediate crisis, Khanal appealed to the international community to continue engaging with Nepal economically. He emphasised that most tourist destinations — including Pokhara and the Mount Everest region — remain open and safe. 'Tourism is critical to our rebuilding efforts,' he said, urging visitors to continue travelling to Nepal to support its economic recovery over the coming months.

Drawing on historical resilience, the minister referenced the devastating 2015 earthquake as a precedent. 'We have emerged stronger after past tragedies. Nepal will rebuild itself again,' he said. Rescue operations are ongoing, and a clearer picture of the total toll is expected as access to affected areas improves.