Washington/Kathmandu, 28 August (H.S.): The Trump administration is concerned about people reported missing in Nepal, with Washington offering Kathmandu assistance in the ongoing rescue operations. According to the head of the Nepal Tourism Board, 65 US citizens are among those reported missing in the disaster. Nepal Police said that more than 1,400 people are missing following the floods that struck on Wednesday. According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, 558 people are missing in Tibet, including 260 foreign nationals.

According to a CBS News report, President Donald Trump told reporters at the Oval Office on Thursday that his administration remained in constant contact with the Nepalese government. US officials have spoken with Nepalese leaders and offered to join the rescue efforts and provide whatever assistance is required. Trump said there was no confirmed information yet about how many US citizens were missing. However, according to the Nepal Tourism Board, 65 Americans are reported missing.

Nepal Tourism Board CEO Hikmat Singh Ayer confirmed that at least 65 US citizens were missing and said 27 foreign nationals had been rescued from the flood-affected areas of Rasuwa district. Among them were two US citizens, a man and a woman. According to a spokesperson for the US State Department, the number of affected American citizens in Nepal could be around 90. So far, there have been no reports of any American citizen being killed.

The US State Department said Americans requiring assistance can call +1-202-501-4444. Families and friends concerned about their loved ones can contact the toll-free number +1-888-407-4747.

The US Embassy in Nepal expressed its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the floods. The embassy said it was working to locate missing US citizens. It urged Americans who are currently in the flood-affected areas of Nepal to try to contact their families, hotels, guides, or trekking and tour companies as soon as possible. However, the embassy said communication services remained severely disrupted.

The US State Department said it was closely monitoring the situation and was sending an adviser to assist with relief efforts. It is also providing a $500,000 grant to Catholic Relief Services.

Leslie Crespi of the Isha Foundation, founded by Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru Vasudev, said 80 people affiliated with the organisation were missing in the disaster. All of them had travelled on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar.

Crespi said the 80 missing people were from 19 countries, including 22 Americans. She said around 1,000 people had participated in the pilgrimage.

US citizen Deepak Dandu said his wife, Sridevi Vezela, was also among those reported missing in Nepal. She had completed a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet with the Isha Foundation. She was entering Nepal from China when the floods struck.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar