Tibet mudslide: 49 Indians among 261 unaccounted foreign nationals at Gyirong
Synopsis
A single mudslide at Gyirong Port on the Tibet-Nepal border has left 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries unaccounted for — 49 of them Indian. On the Nepali side, 675 bodies have been recovered and nearly 2,500 people remain missing, making this one of the deadliest Himalayan border disasters in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
A mudslide struck Gyirong Port , Xizang , on 26 August , leaving 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries unaccounted for.
49 Indian nationals are among the unaccounted; Nepal (104) has the highest number, followed by Latvia (33) and the US (18) .
Chinese authorities have notified all affected countries' embassies and consulates; no tourists are currently stranded in Gyirong County .
Nepal has recovered 675 bodies with 2,498 people still missing, according to its national disaster authority.
753 tourists , including 589 foreign nationals , had lost contact as of Saturday evening, per Nepal's Department of Tourism.
The floods were triggered by a surge in the Bhote Koshi River , damaging hydropower projects, roads, and bridges.
A mudslide that struck Gyirong Port on the Tibet-Nepal border in Xizang on 26 August has left 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries unaccounted for, local authorities confirmed on Sunday, 30 August. Among them are 49 Indian nationals, making India the second-largest group of unaccounted foreigners after Nepal.
Breakdown of Unaccounted Nationals
The figures were released at a press conference convened by the information office of the regional government, following a joint cross-check by foreign affairs, public security, culture and tourism, and emergency management authorities. Nepal accounts for the largest share with 104 unaccounted nationals, followed by India (49), Latvia (33), the United States (18), and Britain (15).
Others include six each from Canada and Australia, four from South Africa, three each from Malaysia, Germany, and Russia, two each from Ireland, Estonia, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, and one each from Kazakhstan, Finland, Lithuania, Portugal, Ukraine, Spain, and Hungary. Chinese authorities have notified the embassies and consulates of all affected countries.
Search Operations at Gyirong Port
Following multiple rounds of searches, site inspections, and individual checks at the port, authorities stated that no foreign tourists are currently stranded in Gyirong County. The 'unaccounted' designation refers to individuals whose status could not be verified through existing records and cross-checks — not necessarily confirmed casualties.
Scale of the Disaster in Nepal
The disaster's toll on the Nepali side has been severe. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority confirmed that 675 bodies have been recovered from affected areas, with 2,498 people still missing. Nepal's Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation separately reported that 753 tourists had lost contact as of 17:30 local time on Saturday, including 589 foreign nationals.
The Kathmandu District Administrative Office issued an urgent notice on Saturday, calling on associations, institutions, enterprises, and individuals in Kathmandu to donate relief supplies for victims in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts.
What Triggered the Floods
The disaster was set off by a sudden surge in the Bhote Koshi River, which caused widespread loss of life and extensive damage to hydropower projects, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure across affected areas. Gyirong Port, a key transit point for travellers between China and Nepal, was directly in the path of the mudslide. This comes amid a broader pattern of increasingly severe monsoon-linked disasters across the Himalayan region in recent years.
As rescue and verification operations continue on both sides of the border, the full scale of the disaster is expected to become clearer in the coming days.
Point of View
500 more as missing. What stands out is the geographic concentration of risk: Gyirong Port is one of the few official land crossings between China and Nepal, and it draws a disproportionate number of trekkers, pilgrims, and overland travellers from South Asia and Europe. India's presence in the second spot — 49 nationals — underscores how many Indians use this corridor for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimages and Himalayan treks, a vulnerability that has received little policy attention. The Bhote Koshi's history of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) is well documented; the question of whether early-warning infrastructure on this corridor has kept pace with tourist volumes is one that authorities on both sides will need to answer.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Indians are unaccounted for in the Tibet-Nepal border mudslide?
49 Indian nationals are among the 261 foreign nationals unaccounted for after a mudslide struck Gyirong Port in Xizang on 26 August 2024. Chinese authorities have notified the Indian embassy and are continuing search and verification operations.
What caused the Gyirong Port mudslide and floods?
The disaster was triggered by a sudden surge in the Bhote Koshi River, which caused a mudslide at Gyirong Port on the Tibet-Nepal border. The floods damaged hydropower projects, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure across the affected region.
How many people are missing in Nepal after the floods?
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority confirmed that 2,498 people are still missing and 675 bodies have been recovered. Separately, Nepal's Department of Tourism reported 753 tourists had lost contact as of Saturday evening, including 589 foreign nationals.
Are any tourists still stranded at Gyirong Port?
No. Chinese authorities stated that following multiple rounds of searches and individual checks, no foreign tourists are currently stranded in Gyirong County. The 261 'unaccounted' figure refers to those whose status could not be confirmed through records and cross-checks.
Which other countries have nationals unaccounted for at Gyirong?
Besides India (49) and Nepal (104), unaccounted nationals include 33 from Latvia, 18 from the United States, 15 from Britain, and smaller numbers from Canada, Australia, South Africa, Malaysia, Germany, Russia, Ireland, Estonia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Finland, Lithuania, Portugal, Ukraine, Spain, and Hungary — spanning 23 countries in total.
