Transit hub at centre of search for hundreds of missing foreigners in Nepal floods

Rasuwa, a crucial transit point near the Nepal-China border, has become the focal point for a nationwide search and rescue mission following devastating flash floods along the Trishuli River basin. The floods have ravaged infrastructure throughout the district, leaving hundreds of people, including foreign tourists, stranded. On the day of the disaster, Rasuwa was hosting an estimated 800 to 1,000 foreign tourists during the peak season for popular treks like the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Langtang, and Gosai Kunda.

These travelers were scattered across 40 to 45 hotels and 80 to 90 homestays in Kerung, Syabrubesi, and Timure, as reported by the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN). TAAN is collaborating with the Nepal police and army to track missing persons and share information with foreign embassies regarding the stranded foreigners.

Karma Sherpa, senior vice president of TAAN, noted that the town near the Trishuli River typically accommodates around 800 to 1,000 foreigners during the peak trekking season. He believes some tourists might have fled their hotels early in the morning before the flood hit, as many are now reported to have ascended to higher ground.

The latest figures reveal that at least 1,924 people are missing, with 579 bodies recovered. Among the missing tourists, 622 remain unaccounted for, while 183 Indian nationals are among the missing, of which 85 have been rescued or contacted. The US leads the list of missing foreigners with 67, followed by Ukraine with 61. TAAN has struggled to communicate with hotels in Rasuwa, as bridges and villages leading to the town have been destroyed.

They have shared passport and registration details of all foreign tourists registered with trekking companies, but face challenges in reaching out due to the damage.