Families in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are anxiously waiting for information about relatives who became untraceable or stranded after devastating flash floods hit Nepal, with several Indian pilgrims and tourists caught in the disaster near the Nepal-Tibet border. Authorities and rescue agencies are working to establish contact with those whose whereabouts remain unclear as communication networks in affected areas have been disrupted.

The disaster has triggered concern across several Indian states, particularly among families whose relatives were travelling to Nepal as part of Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage groups. Officials have activated helplines and control rooms to coordinate information about Indian nationals, while rescue operations continue in difficult conditions.

Kolkata Group Remains Untraceable

A 32-member group from Kolkata, comprising 30 tourists and two tour managers, has remained untraceable after the flash floods struck the Rasuwagadhi area near the Nepal-Tibet border. The group had left Kolkata on August 21 and reached Nepal the following day before travelling towards the border. (The Times of India)

According to officials, the group was at an immigration office at around 8:30 am when the flash flood hit the area. There has been no communication with the members since the disaster, adding to the uncertainty for their families back home. 

Officials in West Bengal are attempting to establish contact with residents who may have been in the affected region, but damaged infrastructure and disrupted communication have complicated the effort.

Tamil Nadu Families Await Updates

Concern is also mounting in Tamil Nadu, where several pilgrims travelling in Nepal have been affected. Officials said 37 of 57 tourists from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry remained unaccounted for, while 20 had been traced and were reported safe.

The group had travelled for a pilgrimage and was caught in the flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River region. Families have been closely following updates as authorities attempt to locate the remaining travellers and facilitate communication with those who have reached safer areas.

Reports from Tamil Nadu have highlighted the uncertainty faced by relatives who have been unable to speak directly with family members since the disaster. The affected pilgrims include people from districts such as Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai. 

More Indians Among Missing

The concerns in Bengal and Tamil Nadu are part of a wider effort to trace Indian nationals caught in the Nepal disaster. Earlier figures indicated that more than 130 Indians, including pilgrims travelling on the Mansarovar route, were among those missing or unaccounted for. 

The numbers have continued to evolve as rescue teams establish contact with survivors and recover information from affected areas. Reuters reported on Thursday that nearly 500 foreigners were among 826 people reported missing in Nepal, with 177 Indians listed among the missing tourists. 

The disaster has also affected travellers from several other countries, underscoring the scale of the disruption along the Himalayan pilgrimage and tourism corridor.

Rescue Operations Continue

The flash floods caused extensive destruction across parts of Nepal, sweeping away roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure. Rescue teams have been using helicopters to reach people stranded in isolated areas, while emergency supplies are being delivered to communities cut off by the disaster. 

The rescue operation remains challenging because several affected areas have suffered communication breakdowns and road connectivity has been severely damaged. Authorities are continuing searches for missing people while also working to evacuate those trapped in vulnerable locations.

The disaster has been linked to a glacial collapse and debris flow in the Himalayan region, rather than the earthquake initially suspected. The sudden release of water and debris produced a powerful flood surge through populated areas. 

Helplines Help Families

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and several state governments have established helplines for Indians stranded in Nepal and their relatives in India. Tamil Nadu is among the states coordinating assistance for affected travellers, while other states have also opened control rooms as the list of missing and stranded Indians is assessed. 

For families in Kolkata, Tamil Nadu and elsewhere, the immediate priority remains establishing contact with relatives and confirming their safety. With rescue operations still underway, authorities are expected to continue updating the status of Indian nationals as communication is restored and search teams reach affected locations.

The three victims, aged 23 to 26, arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 21 after booking a seven-day Pattaya tour package worth roughly ₹1.99 lakh (about 70,000 baht). After reaching Pattaya, they were reportedly approached by an Indian man who transported them individually by motorcycle to a residential property, where they were confined and, according to police, physically assaulted over the following days. Their captors demanded a ransom of 7 million rupees (around 2.4 million baht) from each victim's family, and staged photos and videos — including spraying one victim with red paint to simulate bleeding — to pressure relatives back home into paying.

The case broke open after a relative of one victim alerted Thai police, who traced phone numbers used by the kidnappers to a number registered in Dubai and eventually located the property on Map Tato Road in Pattaya's Nongprue area. Officers rescued the three victims on Monday, finding them locked in two bedrooms with their limbs and mouths bound. The suspects fled the property on motorcycles just minutes before police arrived.

Investigators subsequently tracked five Indian nationals — identified as Avtar Singh, 38, Jagjit Singh, 38, Rambalak Kumar, 24, Sukhbir Singh, 37, and Kulra Singh, 27 — to a hotel in Bangkok's Khlong Tan area on Tuesday, arresting them in the lobby and upstairs rooms just hours before they were scheduled to board an outbound flight. According to police, the suspects said they had been instructed by a Pakistani national they'd been in contact with through a chat application for about a month, and had been promised valuables, cash and airline tickets out of Thailand once the operation was complete. The suspected mastermind is believed to be based in Dubai and had planned to receive ransom payments in cryptocurrency, according to investigators.

Police recovered adhesive tape, a wooden object allegedly used in the assaults, and red spray paint believed to have been used to stage the photos and videos sent to the victims' families. Investigators are also examining claims from the victims that a previous Indian tourist had reportedly been held captive at the same property, and released only after a ₹30 lakh ransom was paid.

Thai immigration authorities have since warned tourists to treat unusually cheap travel packages with caution, and the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue searching for the alleged Dubai-based mastermind and examining financial records and digital communications tied to the wider network.

Vietnamese authorities have detained the captain of a tourist speedboat and initiated a criminal investigation following the tragic boat accident near Phu Quoc Island that claimed the lives of 15 Indian tourists. The move comes a day after one of the deadliest incidents involving Indian travellers overseas in recent years.

According to Vietnamese authorities, the captain has been taken into custody on allegations of violating inland waterway safety regulations, while investigators examine the circumstances that led to the fatal capsizing of the vessel. 

Captain Under Criminal Investigation

Police in Vietnam's An Giang province confirmed that criminal proceedings have been initiated against the captain as part of a formal investigation into the disaster.

Authorities are examining whether safety protocols, navigation procedures and operational guidelines were followed before the vessel departed. Investigators are also reviewing weather conditions, the boat's technical status and crew actions leading up to the accident. 

Boat Capsized Near Phu Quoc

The accident occurred on July 11 when the tourist speedboat, carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members, capsized shortly after departing Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, near the popular tourist destination of Phu Quoc in southern Vietnam.

Officials said the vessel overturned less than 500 metres from the shore. Rescue teams, including emergency boats and jet skis, rushed to the scene and managed to pull survivors from the water despite rough sea conditions. 

Fifteen Indians Killed

The tragedy claimed the lives of 15 Indian nationals, while the remaining passengers were rescued, although several sustained injuries. One survivor remains in critical condition, according to local authorities.

Most of the victims were reportedly from the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, and were part of a company-sponsored trip organised by Indian electronics manufacturer Lava International. 

Weather and Safety Under Scrutiny

Preliminary reports indicate that rough seas and high waves complicated rescue operations. Witnesses said the weather deteriorated rapidly after the vessel left the island, causing the boat to overturn within moments.

Survivors have also raised concerns over the availability of emergency medical facilities and rescue preparedness at the nearby tourist destination, issues that are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation. 

Vietnam Orders Wider Review

Following the incident, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hun directed authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the accident and review safety standards governing tourist boat operations.

The government has ordered officials to determine accountability while strengthening maritime safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. 

Investigation Continues

Vietnamese investigators are collecting evidence, questioning crew members and examining the vessel to determine the exact cause of the accident.

The criminal probe is expected to establish whether negligence, operational lapses or adverse weather conditions were primarily responsible for the disaster.

As authorities continue their investigation, the incident has sparked renewed debate over passenger safety standards in Vietnam's growing marine tourism industry, particularly around popular island destinations that attract thousands of international visitors every year. 

The boat, operated by Ocean Pearl Island Company, was carrying 32 Indian tourists along with a flight attendant and four crew members when it malfunctioned and capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai island around 1 pm local time, according to Vietnamese outlet VnExpress, which cited authorities from the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone. Nearby tourist boats moved in to help once the vessel got into distress, according to the same report.

The An Thoi Port Border Guard Station said the dead included two women and 13 men. The 21 people rescued were taken to medical facilities for emergency treatment; their conditions haven't been detailed publicly.

The Indian Embassy in Hanoi confirmed the incident in a post on X, saying a boat carrying several Indian tourists had capsized near Phu Quoc and that exact details were still being established as search and rescue operations continued. The embassy said it had set up control rooms to coordinate the response.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the tragedy on X shortly after, writing that he was "extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news" and offering condolences to the families who lost loved ones, along with prayers for the injured survivors' recovery. He said the Indian Embassy and Consulate were providing all possible assistance and that officials were in close contact with Vietnamese authorities. Modi is currently returning to India after wrapping up a three-nation tour covering Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

As of the last update, there had been no official confirmation of the death toll or victims' identities from the Indian government directly — figures so far have come from local Vietnamese authorities and media. Further details on the cause of the malfunction, and on the identities and home states of those killed, are still awaited.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island and a fast-growing tourist destination in the Gulf of Thailand, has seen a steady rise in Indian visitor numbers in recent years as direct flight connectivity and holiday packages to Southeast Asia have expanded. The scale of Saturday's incident is likely to raise fresh questions about safety standards for tourist boat operators in the region, though no official assessment of what went wrong has been released yet.

The Ministry of External Affairs has not issued a separate statement beyond the embassy's post as of this writing.

A boat carrying several Indian tourists capsized near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation by local authorities. The Indian Embassy in Vietnam has confirmed that it is in constant touch with Vietnamese officials and is closely monitoring the situation.

According to an official statement posted by the Indian Embassy on X, the incident occurred a few hours before the announcement, though the exact number of passengers, casualties, or injuries has not yet been confirmed. Authorities are continuing rescue efforts while verifying the identities and condition of those on board.

The embassy said that the situation remains fluid and that updates will be shared as more verified information becomes available.

Embassy Monitoring Rescue Efforts

The Indian diplomatic mission stated that it is coordinating with local authorities to gather accurate information about the incident and provide assistance to affected Indian nationals.

In its statement, the embassy said:

"A boat carrying several Indian tourists capsized near Phu Quoc Island a few hours ago. The exact details are still being confirmed as local authorities continue search and rescue operations."

Vietnamese rescue teams have been deployed to the area, where operations are underway to locate missing passengers and ensure the safety of those rescued.

Emergency Control Rooms Activated

To assist affected families and provide real-time information, the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City has established a dedicated Control Room.

The emergency helpline numbers are:

• +84 36 281 7930

• +84 91 552 37 14

• +84 33 452 0414

In addition, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi has also activated a Control Room that can be contacted at:

• +84 91 308 9165

Families seeking information about relatives travelling in Vietnam have been advised to contact these emergency numbers.

Authorities Yet to Confirm Casualties

Officials have not released details regarding the total number of passengers on board, the cause of the accident, or whether there have been any fatalities or injuries.

Search and rescue teams remain at the site as weather and sea conditions are being assessed during the ongoing operation. Vietnamese authorities are expected to provide further updates after completing initial rescue efforts.

Embassy Assures Assistance

The Indian Embassy has assured that all necessary assistance will be extended to Indian nationals affected by the incident. Diplomatic officials are coordinating closely with local emergency responders and Vietnamese government agencies.

Further information is expected once rescue operations conclude and authorities verify the identities and status of all passengers.

Indian travellers and tour operators are closely monitoring Thailand’s latest visa and entry regulations amid increasing demand for international travel during the holiday season.

Thailand remains one of the most popular destinations for Indian tourists, attracting visitors to cities and beach destinations including Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. Over the past few years, travel between India and Thailand has witnessed strong growth due to easier entry procedures and tourism-friendly policies.

Travel industry experts said visa and immigration policies are subject to periodic review depending on tourism requirements, bilateral relations and administrative decisions. Any revisions in entry rules are generally communicated through official embassy notifications and immigration advisories.

Tour operators have advised passengers to verify the latest travel guidelines before booking international trips. Experts said travellers should regularly check embassy websites and official government portals for updated information regarding visa requirements, entry permissions and permitted duration of stay.

The tourism sector continues to expect strong travel demand from India, especially during upcoming holiday periods and festival seasons. Airlines and hospitality operators are also anticipating increased movement of Indian tourists to Southeast Asian destinations in the coming months.

Officials have emphasised that passengers should rely only on authorised travel advisories and official notifications while planning overseas travel.