KATHMANDU: Twenty-seven foreign tourists have been rescued from the flood-hit Timure and Bhotekoshi areas of Rasuwa following Wednesday’s devastating flash flood, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

The NTB said the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board, Tourist Police and tourism-sector stakeholders are working to verify the whereabouts and safety of tourists and travellers who were in or passing through the affected areas.

According to the NTB situation update issued at 3:30 pm Thursday, the rescued tourists include 11 Indian nationals, four South Koreans, two Italians and two Americans, while the nationality of eight others was either unspecified or not clearly recorded in the list.

The rescued tourists are:

• Nationality not specified: Gong Fu, 25; Punganang Fui, 45; Fang Nuotau, 48; Zhang Chuan, 70; Tian Yu, 35; Zinzhi Giang, 52; Zhang Curg, 43; Ziang Gang, 31. 
• South Korea: Taeyoon Kia, 41; Taehoon Yum, 57; Jongho Lim, 56; Jaepok Yang, 56.
• Italy: Lotumuw Stecano, 30; Valurntina Piccintui, 37.
• United States: Anjana Raja, 52; Pattabiraman Venkatesan, 55.
• India: Thiruma Bhaalan, 62; Balani Yappan, 69; Ratna Kumar, 65; Rananaga Sawai, 68; Raghunardan, 56; Sima Ranjan, 46; Naghu Kabir Dosh, 54; Maran Gobinda Spanu, 54; Satyai Dhakham, 47; Bijaya Bakhu, 54; Panga Sawai, 68.

The NTB said rescue and evacuation efforts are continuing to assist injured and stranded people and establish the safety status of tourists in the affected districts.