Kathmandu: At least 105 Indian tourists are among 291 foreign nationals reported missing after a flash flood swept through Nepal's Rasuwa area on Wednesday, according to News18, citing the Nepal Tourism Board.

The missing foreign nationals include 17 Malaysians, 12 Britons, four South Africans, three Americans, one Australian and one Dutch national. The nationalities of another 103 missing people have not yet been established.

The list of "reported missing" by Nepal Tourism also states that 37 NRIs are missing from the Himalayan Glacier Area.

"Following the sudden flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa at around 8:30 am. on Wednesday, Nepal Tourism Board, Tourist Police and tourism stakeholders are working to verify the whereabouts and safety status of tourists and travellers who were in or travelling through the affected areas," NTB said in an update on X, giving "preliminary details of missing tourists".

"A preliminary agency-wise record received from tourism and travel companies has identified 384 travellers, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals, who were reported missing from the affected areas. The information is being verified and cross-checked in coordination with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies," it said.

The flash flood hit the Bhote Koshi River at around 9 a.m. local time after water surged in from the Tibet side, affecting parts of Rasuwa and Dhading districts along the Tibet border as well as Nuwakot district, southwest of Kathmandu.

Officials said there was no significant local rainfall in Rasuwa when the flooding occurred. They suspect the sudden surge may have been triggered by heavy rainfall or an avalanche on the Tibetan side, although the exact cause remains under investigation.

Rasuwa, located around 125 km northeast of Kathmandu near the Tibet border, has emerged as the worst-hit area. Timure and nearby Syafrubesi suffered extensive damage, with vehicles, goods and other property swept away by the rapidly rising waters, the Nepal Army said.

Search and rescue operations have been launched in the affected areas with assistance from the Nepal Army. Authorities have also placed several downstream districts, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitawan, on high alert.

The disaster has also resulted in fatalities. Four bodies, those of three men and a woman, were recovered from Bidur Municipality in Nuwakot district following the flash flood, a senior superintendent of police and spokesperson at the Bagmati Province Police Office told PTI.

The bodies were found near the Trishuli river shortly after the flood, he said.

Officials are continuing rescue and search operations as authorities work to determine the number of missing people and establish the circumstances behind the sudden flash flood.