Nepal flash floods: 105 Indians among 384 tourists missing in Rasuwa
Synopsis
Flash floods along the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal's Rasuwa region have left 384 tourists missing — 105 of them Indian nationals — with seven confirmed dead as of 26 August. The scale of the crisis, spanning nine travel agencies and nationals from seven countries, has triggered a high-level government response from Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
Key Takeaways
Flash floods struck the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal's Rasuwa region on 26 August , displacing hundreds of tourists.
384 tourists are reported missing — 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens — according to the Nepal Tourism Board .
105 Indian nationals are among the missing; others are from the UK , Australia , the US , Malaysia , South Africa , and the Netherlands .
At least 7 people have been confirmed dead, according to reports.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah chaired an emergency meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and consulted parliamentarians from five affected districts.
NTB emergency contacts: toll-free 1234 , hotline 1144 , Tourist Police 9851289445 .
Flash floods along the Bhote Koshi River struck the Rasuwa region of Nepal on Wednesday, 26 August, leaving 384 tourists — including 105 Indian nationals — reported missing, according to a preliminary situation update issued by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). At least seven people have been confirmed dead, with rescue operations still underway across the affected districts.
Scale of the Missing
Of the 384 reported missing, 291 are foreign nationals and 93 are Nepali citizens, according to the NTB. Among the foreign nationals, 105 are from India, with others hailing from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa, and the Netherlands. The missing travellers are associated with nine different travel agencies, the board said.
The NTB cautioned that the figures are preliminary and are being actively verified and cross-checked with travel agencies, local authorities, and security agencies. The nationalities of several missing travellers are yet to be confirmed.
What the Nepal Tourism Board Said
'The information is being verified and cross-checked in coordination with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies,' the Nepal Tourism Board said in an official statement. The board has issued emergency contact numbers for tourists and families seeking information: toll-free number 1234, hotline 1144, and Tourist Police at 9851289445. Tourists in affected areas have been urged to remain calm, follow official channels, and adhere to safety instructions issued by authorities.
Government Response and Relief Efforts
Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened a meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management earlier on Wednesday to receive a high-level briefing on the flood situation and the progress of rescue and relief efforts. He subsequently consulted with federal parliamentarians from the affected districts, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan.
The discussions covered damage assessments, the condition of settlements in low-lying areas, and the status of ongoing rescue operations. Prime Minister Shah reaffirmed the government's commitment to citizen safety and said clear instructions had been issued to subordinate bodies to exercise additional vigilance in vulnerable coastal zones and to relocate displaced persons to safe locations immediately.
Background and Broader Impact
The Bhote Koshi River corridor is a popular transit route for tourists travelling between Nepal and Tibet, and the Rasuwa district hosts several trekking and adventure tourism circuits. Flash floods in this region are not uncommon during the monsoon season, but the scale of disruption on 26 August — affecting hundreds of tourists from multiple countries — has drawn an unusually high-level response. This comes amid Nepal's ongoing monsoon season, which has already caused widespread flooding and landslides across multiple districts this year.
Search and rescue operations are continuing, and authorities have indicated that further details will be released as ground-level assessments are completed.
Point of View
The true count could shift significantly. What is already clear is that India has the highest foreign-national exposure in this crisis, which will put pressure on New Delhi to engage consular channels rapidly. Nepal's Bhote Koshi corridor is a perennial flood risk during monsoon, yet tourist advisories for the region remain inconsistently enforced. The broader question — whether Nepal's adventure tourism infrastructure has adequate real-time emergency protocols for multi-agency, multi-nationality crises — deserves scrutiny beyond the immediate rescue effort.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Indians are missing in the Nepal flash floods?
According to a preliminary update from the Nepal Tourism Board, 105 Indian nationals are among the 384 tourists reported missing after flash floods hit the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal's Rasuwa region on 26 August. The figures are being verified and may change as ground assessments continue.
How many people have died in the Nepal Bhote Koshi floods?
At least seven people have been confirmed dead as of 26 August , according to reports. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and the death toll may rise as authorities reach more affected areas.
What emergency numbers has Nepal issued for missing tourists?
The Nepal Tourism Board has issued three emergency contacts: toll-free number 1234 , hotline 1144 , and Tourist Police at 9851289445 . These lines are available for tourists in affected areas and families seeking information about missing travellers.
Which countries have nationals missing in the Nepal floods?
Foreign nationals from at least seven countries are among the missing, including India (105), the United Kingdom , Australia , the United States , Malaysia , South Africa , and the Netherlands . The nationalities of several other missing travellers are yet to be confirmed.
What is the Nepal government doing in response to the floods?
Prime Minister Balendra Shah chaired an emergency meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and separately consulted federal parliamentarians from five affected districts — Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan. He has directed authorities to increase vigilance in low-lying areas and relocate displaced persons to safety immediately.
