Nepal flash floods: 95 dead, hundreds missing; India launches relief effort

More than 150 individuals were lost in massive flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, causing at least 484 people to be reported missing, including 105 Indian nationals and 37 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). As of 7 pm local time, 391 foreign nationals and 93 Nepalis had been listed as missing, with many of the Indians reportedly heading to the sacred Kailash Mansarovar region. Victims included 44 Nepalese Army personnel, 28 police officers, and 13 members of the Armed Police Force.

The devastating floods began around 9 am local time, sweeping away numerous settlements along a 60-kilometer road that stretches from Gyirong in Tibet to Rasuwa and Dhading districts in Nepal, as well as the Nuwakot district. These areas are part of Nepal’s historic trade route with Tibet and are densely populated. Rasuwa, known for its trekking routes that include the sacred Gosaikunda Lake, saw some of the missing individuals trekking to the lake during the local Janai Purnima festival.

Critical infrastructure, including at least twelve hydropower projects, was destroyed, impacting approximately 700 megawatts of power generation. In the worst-affected Nuwakot area, dozens of multi-storied buildings, vehicles, and trucks were buried under mud. Gorkha, Nawalparasi, and Chitwan districts also suffered significant damage.

Experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based in Kathmandu, suggested that a glacier avalanche likely triggered the flash floods. Initial reports indicated that an earthquake might have caused an avalanche, leading to the floods. According to ICIMOD, a substantial amount of ice and rock debris entered the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, generating a sudden surge that carried water, sediment, and large boulders downstream.

Security footage from the Chinese side of the border captured scenes of people fleeing as the mudslide destroyed buildings, vehicles, and took lives. The mudslide occurred on the Nepal side and hit the Gyirong port, severing roads, communication, and power links in the Shigatse region near the border. Chinese authorities reported three deaths and 265 missing in the incident.