KATHMANDU, Aug 30: A total of 261 foreign tourists from various countries who went missing after the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa have been rescued.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 261 foreign tourists who lost contact after the flood struck the Bhotekoshi River on Wednesday morning had been rescued by Saturday evening.
Hikmat Singh Air, acting chief executive officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, said the rescued tourists included people from 16 countries who had travelled to Gosainkunda and Kailash Mansarovar through different travel companies.
32 tourists rescued from Manaslu
Among those rescued are 167 Indian nationals, 40 Chinese, four Germans, four Maltese, three Italians, two Russians, two Spanish, two Swiss, two Turkish, eight Ukrainians and three Americans. One tourist each from Belgium, Bulgaria, Oman and Portugal was also rescued.
The board said 21 other rescued tourists could not yet be identified by nationality or name.
However, 320 tourists remain unaccounted for following the disaster, according to the Nepal Tourism Board.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board, Tourist Police and other tourism stakeholders have stepped up search and rescue operations for tourists in the affected areas. The board said every possible effort is being made to bring injured and stranded tourists to safety.
Emphasising that “the safety of tourists is our first priority,” the Nepal Tourism Board urged people to remain patient and alert.
For information or assistance, the board has asked people to contact its toll free number 1234, hotline 1144, or Tourist Police at 9851289445.
