Updates: Nepal flash flood toll rises to 359, over 280 Indians missing

The toll in the flash flood and mudslide in Nepal increased to 359 on Thursday as search and rescue operations continued, The Kathmandu Post quoted the police as saying. More than 1,380 persons are missing, AFP reported earlier in the day.

Of those missing, 826 persons were untraceable in Nepal, AP reported. The remaining 558 were missing on the Chinese side of the border, Chinese state-backed news agency Xinhua reported.

At least 285 Indian citizens in Nepal are currently “uncontactable”, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He said that the numbers are based on preliminary information and are expected to change.

There may be some Indians missing on the Chinese side as well, Jaiswal added, saying that the Indian diplomatic mission was trying to locate them with the help of the local authorities.

Earlier in the day, the Nepal Tourism Board said that there were 178 Indians among the 517 foreigners reported missing.

Meanwhile, 54 Indians have been rescued, the external affairs ministry said. While 21 of them are from Tamil Nadu, the 33 others are workers at the Trishuli-I power project.

The floods occurred in the Rasuwa district along Nepal’s northern border with China on Wednesday. The mountainous district is located about 120 km north of Kathmandu. As there was no rainfall in the area, residents did not have a warning about the deluge.

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