KATHMANDU: A total of 261 tourists who went missing in the floods in Bhotekoshi of Rasuwa district have been rescued.

As per the information provided by Nepal Tourism Board, 261 foreign tourists who were out of contact in the flooded Bhotekoshi River have been rescued till Saturday evening.

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the board, Hikmat Singh Ayer, said that 261 tourists from 16 countries have been rescued from Gosaikunda and Kailash Mansarovar. Among the rescued tourists, 167 are from India, 40 from China, one from Belgium, one from Bulgaria, four from Germany, three from Italy, four from Malta, one from Oman, one from Portugal, two from Russia, two from Spain, two from Switzerland, two from Turkey, eight from Ukraine and three from the United States.

Similarly, 21 tourists, whose country and identity are not known, have been rescued, according to the Board. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 320 tourists are still missing due to the floods. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board, Tourist Police and other tourism stakeholders have intensified the search and rescue operation of tourists in the affected areas. The board has said that all necessary efforts are being made to bring the injured and stranded to safer places.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has urged everyone to be patient and vigilant, saying that ‘the safety of tourists is our first priority’. Nepal Tourism Board has urged people to contact toll-free number 1234, hotline number 1144 and tourism police at 9851289445 for any information or assistance.