KATHMANDU: Hundreds of locals and foreign tourists remained out of contact after a massive flood in the Bhote Koshi River swept away riverside settlements in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts on Wednesday morning.

According to police, the flood entered the Bhote Koshi River from the Tibetan side around 9:00 am, causing massive damage in Timure, Syabrubesi, and the Trishuli area. "Many settlements were wiped out by the massive floods," officials said, adding that three police stations were also damaged.

Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN), said that many foreign tourists who were on their way to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra remained out of contact after the incident. "I am trying to establish contact with our own group of nearly fifty travellers, including Australian and American nationals, who were in Rasuwa on their way to Mansarovar," Pandey, who is also the owner of Himalayan Glacier Adventure & Travel, said.

The Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents informed that more than 500 tourists and pilgrims were on their way from Rasuwa to Mansarovar when the floods hit the area. "The details are being awaited," NATTA said. Officials added that more travellers were stuck in the area as they were heading for Gosaikunda.

Following the incident, the government has mobilised all resources for search and rescue operations, while Prime Minister Balendra Shah is holding an emergency meeting of the Central Disaster Management Committee. Authorities have urged residents along riverbanks to remain on high alert in the downstream areas of Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan districts.

Due to severe flooding along the Rasuwa–Trishuli corridor, the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) is mobilizing an immediate emergency response. 

It requests all available, experienced adventure and rescue professionals to report directly to the NMA office for operational briefing and organized deployment.