At least 160 people have died after severe flash floods and landslides struck areas of Nepal and China’s Tibet region on Wednesday, leaving a trail of destruction along the Nepal-China border.
Hundreds of people are still missing as rescue teams continue searching through affected areas. The flooding followed a sharp rise in water levels in the Bhote Koshi River near the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepalese authorities said the disaster occurred shortly after an earthquake was reported in Tibet, raising concerns that a glacial lake outburst or other sudden event may have contributed to the flooding.
Rasuwa and Dhading were among the worst-hit districts, while flooding and landslides also affected Nuwakot, Chitwan and Nawalparasi East. Bridges were swept away, homes were damaged and several hydropower facilities were affected.
Nepal Recovers 157 Bodies, 3 Deaths Reported in China
Nepal Police said 157 bodies had been recovered from areas hit by the floods and landslides. The Nepal government has estimated that around 500 people remain missing.
Across the border in Tibet, state-run CGTN reported three deaths and 265 people missing after a mudslide struck a border hub.
The disaster has caused major damage to Nepal’s infrastructure. Eight operational hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 354 MW were affected, while five projects still under construction also suffered damage. Authorities said 19 motorable bridges were washed away.
133 Indians Among Missing Tourists
The disaster has also affected hundreds of tourists and foreign nationals in Nepal. Officials said more than 400 tourists remain unaccounted for, including around 341 foreigners.
Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson for the Nepal Tourism Board, told the Associated Press that 133 of the missing tourists were Indians, many of whom were pilgrims.
Sadhguru, the founder of the Isha Foundation, said 77 members of the organisation who were at an immigration centre were still unaccounted for, while 495 others had safely returned.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh are among the Indian states that have established helplines for residents and families affected by the disaster. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has also released emergency contact numbers and is working with Nepalese authorities on rescue and relief operations.
PM Modi Assures Nepal of Assistance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah and assured him that India would provide all possible humanitarian assistance. India has also sent an initial consignment of relief supplies to Nepal.
Shah thanked Modi for his “warm words of solidarity” and the offer of assistance, saying Nepal deeply values the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
China has also intensified its rescue efforts following the disaster. President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to make every effort to locate missing people, evacuate those at risk and provide emergency assistance in the affected areas.
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