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SEVENTEEN Malaysians travelling together in a tour group remain uncontactable after devastating floods swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa district, with their last known location near Timure close to the Nepal-China border.
A representative of the Nepal-based travel agency, Roshan Panday, said the Malaysians were travelling as a group and were last known to be in an area badly affected by the floods.
He said an agency staff member last managed to contact one of the group members at 8.18am local time, or 10.18am in Malaysia, as they were travelling towards the border near Timure.
Roshan confirmed that all 17 Malaysians were together when contact was lost.
“They were travelling together as one group. Six cars, but all together,” he said.
The group has not been reachable since, prompting the agency to intensify efforts to determine their whereabouts.
Roshan said access to the area had been severely disrupted after floodwaters swept away roads.
“There is no road access because everything has been swept away,” he said.
Helicopters were sent to the area yesterday to assist the search, while drones were also being used to locate the group.
“We have sent helicopters, besides using drones and every method available,” he said.
Roshan said rebuilding roads in the affected area could take at least a year, meaning air access would remain the main means of reaching the area for the time being.
The situation is being closely monitored as Malaysian authorities continue efforts to establish the whereabouts and safety of citizens caught in the disaster.
Meanwhile, Malaysians at the Annapurna Base Camp have been reported safe and are not affected by the flash floods that struck other parts of Nepal.
Independent tour guide Muhammad Hafizal Hamidon said conditions at the base camp remained stable, with an estimated 65 to 70 Malaysians currently there.
“Thankfully, the situation at Annapurna Base Camp is good now. As far as I know, there are about 65 to 70 Malaysians in the area. There is no rescue operation because everything is fine here and there are no problems. The flooding is far from the Annapurna Base Camp,” he told Buletin TV3.
He said trekking activities were continuing as normal, although some routes had been affected by landslides the previous week.
“Some areas along the entry and exit routes for trekking were affected last week, with several landslides and vehicles unable to pass. It has now been partially reopened to allow passage through the affected areas and for trekking to continue.
“As of now, activities at Annapurna Base Camp remain unchanged and there are no obstacles to trekking here,” he said.
Muhammad Hafizal said he and his group were on their fourth day at the base camp and were scheduled to spend the night there today.
He added that conditions remained under control and there had been no notification of any rescue operation involving Malaysians at Annapurna Base Camp. - August 27, 2026
