Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has said that 644 tourists have gone out of contact following severe flooding along the Bhotekoshi River.
Issuing a statement on Thursday, the NTB said that information regarding the missing travelers was compiled from preliminary reports provided by local travel and trekking agencies. “The information is being continuously verified in coordination with travel agencies, tour guides, local administrations, and security agencies,” the NTB added.
Data show that of the missing individuals, 127 are Nepali citizens and 517 are foreign nationals.
The Rasuwagadhi border point and Timure were the first Nepali settlements to be struck by the flash floods on Wednesday morning. As the disaster coincided with the peak pilgrimage and trekking season for the Kailash-Mansarovar region in Tibet, hundreds of travelers had been crossing the border daily. Additionally, the downstream settlement of Syafrubesi is the primary gateway for the popular Langtang Valley Trek.
The NTB has urged local residents and tourists in the affected districts to remain calm, strictly adhere to official safety instructions and maintain regular contact with local police, district authorities, or their respective tour operators.
According to the NTB, missing foreign nationals represent 33 countries. The tally includes 178 Indians, 65 from the United States, 53 Ukrainians, 35 Australians, 33 Britons, 51 Malaysians, 25 Canadians, eight Germans, eight Russians, six South Africans, five Japanese, four French nationals, three Spaniards, two Dutch, one Israeli, and one Swiss national.
