Nepal Floods: 404 Maharashtra Tourists Stranded, 299 Confirmed Safe

As many as 404 people from Maharashtra have been confirmed stranded in Nepal following the devastating flash floods in the country's Rasuwa district. Of those, 299 have been contacted and confirmed safe, while 105 have already returned to India.

The floods swept through areas along the Bhote Koshi river near the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday, killing hundreds and causing extensive damage.

According to Maharashtra's State Disaster Management Department, its control room has established contact with all 299 stranded people, who are currently safe but remain in different parts of Nepal. The 105 people who have returned to India are from Nagpur and are expected to return home according to their schedules.

However, 60 Maharashtra tourists travelling with Mumbai-based Richa Tours Pvt Ltd remain untraceable.

37 KAILASH MANSAROVAR PILGRIMS RETURNING

Separately, 37 pilgrims from Maharashtra who were stranded in Tibet after completing the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra left for Kathmandu on Friday following intervention by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The group included pilgrims from Thane, Pune, Raigad, Alibag and Dombivli. They crossed through the Nyalam check-post from Saga in Tibet at around 6 am and travelled towards Kathmandu.

Their scheduled flight from Kathmandu to India is at 2 pm on August 29.

MUMBAI GROUP OF 61 STILL UNTRACEABLE

Concerns also remain over a separate group of 61 people from Mumbai led by mountaineer Dr Milind Chitley and his wife, Dr Janhavi.

Shiv Sena leader Dr Deepak Sawant said no contact had yet been established with the group. He said the group was expected to cross the Nepal-China border when the flash floods struck and has remained unreachable since then.

The group reportedly includes Dr Meenakshi Ramani and two of her relatives.

Authorities continue to coordinate efforts to establish contact with those who remain untraceable as rescue and relief operations continue across flood-hit Nepal.