Bhubaneswar, August 27: More than 160 people are feared dead following devastating floods and landslides near the Nepal-Tibet border, with two tourists from Odisha’s Bhubaneswar reportedly missing amid the ongoing crisis.

The missing couple has been identified as Sandeep Mahapatra and Siddharthi Sahu, who had travelled from Bhubaneswar to Kathmandu for a visit. The couple, who belong to Khordha district, have been residing in Australia since 2018 and reached Nepal on August 22, 2026.

According to Odisha’s state nodal officer, their mobile phones are currently switched off and authorities have no information about their whereabouts. Their last reported GPS location was near an immigration office. Details of the couple, collected from Sandeep Mahapatra’s sister, have been shared with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.

Search and rescue efforts are underway to trace the couple and ascertain their safety. The Office of the Chief Resident Commissioner in New Delhi is also closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the concerned authorities.

Meanwhile, authorities have confirmed that other Odisha residents who travelled to Nepal are safe.

Rakesh Kumar Panda, a native of Puri, travelled to Nepal along with two others. The three have been reported safe after crossing the Raxaul border post and are returning to India.

In another development, a team of six football players from Odisha, accompanied by their coach Halim, had travelled to Nepal to participate in a football match in Pokhara. The coach has confirmed that all members of the team are safe in Nepal.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation in Nepal and are coordinating efforts to ensure the safety and possible evacuation of Odisha residents caught up in the flood and landslide crisis.