Nepal Floods: Information of 32 Malayalees received, contacted 18 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Information has been received about the 32 Malayalees who were in Nepal at the time of the flash floods. Their relatives have contacted the office of Chief Minister V D Satheesan. Authorities have been able to talk with 18 of them, while contact with 14 others could not be established.

The details of 20 people were also received through NORKA. According to latest information, around 48 Malayalees are presently in the affected region. They are tourists and pilgrims. Government sources said their details have been forwarded to the Indian Embassy. Following the flash floods that caused widespread destruction in Nepal, the Kerala government had released helpline numbers. Relatives of those in Nepal contacted the Chief Minister's Office through these numbers. Many of those who have been contacted said that although they are in the disaster-hit area, they have not faced any other problems.

Meantime, the death toll from the flood disaster in Nepal has risen to 160. The number of deaths is likely to increase further. The authorities are continuing efforts to recover the bodies trapped in the mud.

Emergency rescue operations are underway in the disaster-hit areas under the leadership of the Nepal Army. The flash flood occurred in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district at around 8:30 am local time yesterday. A massive flow of water from the Tibetan side swept away villages and markets in the Sapho Basi and Timure areas.