Two Odisha Tourists Missing After Nepal Flash Floods

The missing persons have been identified as Sandeep Mahapatra and his wife, Sidharthi Kumari Sahu.

The development comes amid reports that around 133 Indian tourists went missing following the disaster in Nepal.

The Odisha government has activated a 24x7 control room at Odisha Niwas in New Delhi to provide assistance to people from the state affected by the calamity.

According to Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the Odisha Paribar Directorate, details are being compiled based on calls received on the helpline numbers issued by the state government.

"After the helpline numbers were issued, we received information that two persons from Khordha district, who had travelled to Nepal, were reportedly missing. We are in constant touch with their family members and collecting details to share them with the Indian Embassy," Panda said.

Relatives seeking information about Odias stranded or missing in Nepal can contact the helpline numbers — +977 9851316807 and +977 9709107500.

Authorities are making efforts to verify the details of the missing tourists and ascertain their whereabouts.

The flash floods, triggered by rising water levels following a glacial collapse, have caused extensive damage in several parts of Nepal, disrupting normal life and affecting thousands of residents and tourists.

Dr Subhransu Bhusan Ray, former Deputy Director General of the Geological Survey of India, described the incident as "very unfortunate" and said the scale of destruction was severe.

"More than 400 people are untraceable. The Bhote Koshi River carried huge volumes of mud and debris with tremendous force, causing widespread devastation. Eleven power plants, 25 satellite towers and 19 bridges have been completely washed away," Ray said.

With the number of missing Indian tourists reportedly rising, rescue and relief agencies are continuing efforts to trace those unaccounted for. Further details on the status of the two tourists from Khordha are awaited.