KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian hikers previously reported to be missing in the flood-hit northern region of India are confirmed to be safe.  

In a statement on Wednesday (July 12), the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi was informed that the hikers are safe in Manali, a town in Himachal Pradesh. 

The ministry clarified that only ten Malaysians are involved while the other two members of the group are Chinese and British nationals. An earlier report stated that all 12 missing hikers were Malaysians. 

The ministry was able to contact one of the Malaysian hikers through the High Commission. 

“Following this development, the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi will endeavour to bring the group out to New Delhi on Thursday, July 13, 2023.

“If the evacuation plan goes smoothly, the group is expected to take a flight back to Malaysia on the same day,” according to the statement. 

“The ministry would like to express its gratitude for the cooperation and immediate assistance provided by the Indian government authorities in an effort to locate all the Malaysians.”

In a statement earlier on Wednesday, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the High Commission was informed that the group in question was participating in an adventure expedition at Hampta Pass in Himachal Pradesh.

Heavy rainfall in parts of northern India have caused widespread floods and landslides, including in Himachal Pradesh, where it has left at least 66 people dead and hundreds of tourists stranded.

Mobile communication networks were disrupted in some areas with thousands of vehicles waiting for rescue in various locations in Himachal Pradesh due to roads being damaged. State officials have said that they were trying to reach stranded local and foreign tourists.

Among them were 15 Russians, who were stuck in the Kullu district's Kasol area.

The priority is to safely evacuate tourists and then focus on repairing roads, water supplies, power lines and other infrastructure, Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told reporters on Wednesday.

"We have managed to evacuate 50 per cent of tourists," he said, adding that the number will soon reach 80 per cent.

The infrastructure damage sustained is estimated to be around US$500m (S$664m). CNA