Nepal floods leave 37 TN tourists unaccounted for, Vijay orders urgent rescue

The whereabouts of 37 tourists from Tamil Nadu who were reportedly travelling to a temple in Nepal are yet to be confirmed following devastating floods in the Himalayan nation, officials said on Wednesday, August 26.

Thanjavur Collector R Revathi said 57 tourists from the district were believed to be in Nepal, of whom officials had so far accounted for 20.

"We do not know what is happening with the rest for now; we are awaiting more information," Revathi told PTI.

Of the 20 tourists whose whereabouts have been confirmed, 11 are women, according to official sources.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said senior government officials at Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi had been directed to take all necessary steps to locate and rescue those missing.

"I have directed the senior government officials at Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi to take all necessary measures to swiftly rescue the people from Tamil Nadu who are missing in this disaster and to provide the required assistance to the affected individuals," he said.

The chief minister said efforts were underway to gather information about the missing tourists through the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Nepal and ensure their safety.

The tourists were reportedly on their way to a temple in the Himalayan region when the floods struck.

At least 46 people were killed and nearly 500 others, including 105 Indians, were reported missing after a massive flash flood originating in Tibet swept through central districts of Nepal on Wednesday.