Kathmandu— A devastating flash flood struck the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday morning, leaving at least 826 individuals missing as of Thursday morning. The National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) reports that among those unaccounted for are 44 Nepali Army personnel, 28 Nepal Police officers, and 13 Armed Police Force members, along with 161 residents of Rasuwa district, one from Nuwakot, and a substantial number – 466 – of foreign tourists. Rescue efforts are underway, but have been hampered by the scale of the disaster and challenging terrain.

Rescue Operations Underway

As of Thursday morning, 104 individuals stranded by the floodwaters had been rescued: 43 from Rasuwa, 58 from Nuwakot, and three from Dhanding. Fifteen helicopters – six operated by the Nepali Army and nine by the Armed Police Force – have been deployed to assist in search and rescue operations. Seventy-three injured people have also been recovered and are currently receiving medical treatment.

Significant Loss of Life

The flood has already claimed a confirmed 165 lives, with bodies retrieved from multiple districts. The NEOC reports that 27 bodies were found in Dhanding, 12 in Nuwakot, 2 in Rasuwa, 20 in Gorakha, 26 in Nawalparasi Purba, nine in Tanahu, 64 in Chitwan, and five in Nawalparasi Paschim. The search for the remaining missing persons continues.

Tourist Impact

The high number of missing foreign tourists is a major concern for authorities. Of the 826 people unaccounted for, 579 are listed as tourists by the NEOC, with 466 specifically identified as being from outside Nepal. This highlights the popularity of the Bhotekoshi River area for adventure tourism and trekking.

Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as authorities work to locate those still missing and provide assistance to affected communities.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.