At least 16 Nepalis have reportedly gone missing after they were swept away by a landslide in Kedarnath in the Indian state of Uttarakhand on Thursday night.

In a statement on Friday, the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi quoting Nepalis living in the area said 11 people from Jumla including seven of the same family and five others from Kalikot district are feared buried in the landslide.

They are feared to be buried after the landslide washed away three hotels in Gaurikund, a pilgrimage site that serves as a basecamp for a trek to Kedarnath Temple.

According to media and officials of the local government, the search for the missing people is hampered by rising water levels in Mandakini river and inclement weather conditions, the embassy said.

Three bodies including two of Nepalis were retrieved from the riverbanks at 9am today, according to the embassy. One of the deceased is Tek Bahadur Kami of Kalikot, while the identity of the other is yet to be ascertained.

The embassy said it has requested the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and Rudraprayag District Magistrate to search for missing Nepalis and to hand over the bodies to the families as soon as possible after completing the necessary legal process.

The embassy added it is in constant contact with Indian authorities.

Indian media, quoting the officials of the Rudraprayag disaster management, reported that around 10 to 12 people are feared to be buried or washed away in the landslide. A team from the state disaster response force (SDRF) has begun the search and rescue operation, according to the report.

Most of those missing in the mudslide are from Patarasi Rural Municipality of Jumla, a remote mountain district of Karnali Province.

Jumla Chief District Officer Jay Kumar Ghimire said he had received the information from the chair and vice-chair of the rural municipality, adding he has informed the Ministry of Home Affairs of the incident.

Lawmaker Kantika Sejuwal said she has received information that 16 Nepalis and three Indian nationals went missing in the landslide that occurred at around 11:30pm on Thursday.

With inputs from DB Budha in Jumla.