Nepal Urges Tourists Not to Abandon Himalayas After Floods

Nepal has urged international travelers not to abandon the Himalayas despite catastrophic floods that have killed hundreds and left thousands missing. Tourism Minister Khadak Raj Paudel declared the country open for tourism in a Facebook video message, encouraging visitors to support the country's efforts in combating the disaster.

The plea comes as images of destroyed villages, roads, and bridges, along with reports of deaths, threaten to deter tourists. Nepal, one of Asia's poorest economies, faces a daunting reconstruction effort due to higher fuel costs, weaker tourism, and slowing growth. The disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse, sending ice, mud, rocks, and water through a valley, wiping out entire settlements.

About 590 foreigners from 39 countries remain missing, and the death toll has risen to at least 1,010. Specialist teams from Nepal, India, China, and South Korea are assisting in rescue operations at affected hydropower projects, where hundreds of workers remain trapped. The damage has affected at least 12 hydropower projects in Nepal's Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts.

Nepal's Home Minister Sudan Gurung stated that rescuers have reached the upper section of one tunnel and are attempting to dig down from above the powerhouse to access more survivors. The disaster has damaged infrastructure, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipating the need for substantial international support during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.

So far, 11,993 people have been rescued, with emergency crews using helicopters and other aircraft to reach isolated communities.