KATHMANDU: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is preparing to establish a dedicated information desk to coordinate updates on tourists affected by the August 26 Bhotekoshi flash flood, as tourism agencies intensify efforts to trace missing travellers and provide verified information to their families.

The decision was taken at a meeting of government agencies and tourism-sector representatives on Sunday, four days after the devastating flood swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors in Rasuwa and affected major travel routes.

The proposed desk will bring together representatives from the NTB, Department of Tourism, Tourist Police, Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Hotel Association Nepal, Hotel Professional Federation Nepal and the Association of Kailash and Manasarovar Tour Operators.

It will regularly compile and disseminate information on tourists who have been rescued, reported missing or confirmed dead, with the aim of providing families and tourism businesses with a single, reliable source of updates.

The meeting was led by Department of Tourism Director General Ramkrishna Lamichhane and NTB Officiating Chief Executive Officer Hikmat Singh Ayer and attended by around 40 representatives from government agencies and tourism organisations.

Tour and travel companies have been asked to submit verified details of missing tourists through designated focal persons and coordinate with the embassies of countries whose nationals are affected. They have also been asked to ensure that families receive timely and accurate information through the concerned companies.

The tourism sector has faced significant uncertainty since the flood struck the Bhote Koshi corridor at around 8:30 am on August 26. The disaster affected the Timure and Syabrubesi areas and sent a flood wave downstream through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, disrupting settlements, bridges, roads and tourism travel routes.

The NTB had initially identified 384 travellers, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepalis, as missing. A subsequent update on August 26 put the number at 484, comprising 391 foreigners and 93 Nepalis. By noon on August 27, the board's country-wise list had reached 644 missing foreign and Nepali nationals, although the figures were described as preliminary and subject to verification.

The missing travellers included tourists associated with multiple travel companies, with nationals from India, the United States, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom and several other countries among those reported unaccounted for.

The disaster also struck during the Janai Purnima pilgrimage season, when large numbers of domestic and international visitors were travelling towards Gosainkunda, a major religious and trekking destination at an altitude of about 4,380 metres. A bus carrying pilgrims from Gorkha towards Gosainkunda also went out of contact after the flood, while the Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal deployed a medical team to its temporary health camp in the area.

The meeting also called for a dedicated coordination cell within the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to maintain information on tourists rescued, missing or confirmed dead.

Tourism businesses have additionally been asked to report damage to tourism infrastructure to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and the NTB, allowing authorities to assess the wider impact on the tourism sector.

The NTB has urged tourism businesses and other stakeholders to use the new coordination mechanism to provide verified and timely information and refrain from circulating unconfirmed reports, amid continuing efforts to establish the whereabouts of missing travellers and assess the damage caused by the flood.