Daily Briefing: Nepal flash floods | IIT Delhi protests | India sells petrol to Russia

Good morning, we begin with the distressing events in Nepal. A catastrophic ice-rock avalanche triggered devastating flash floods along the Bhotekoshi river, obliterating villages and multi-story concrete structures. At least 160 lives have been tragically claimed, with the grim possibility of this number rising as communication is restored to more remote regions and additional bodies are recovered.

Over 140 Indian citizens remain unaccounted for, pushing the overall count of missing individuals above 400, according to government officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to his Nepalese counterpart, Prime Minister Balen Shah, extending all possible support. India is prepared to contribute by dispatching military transports laden with essential food and aid supplies.

Furthermore, India may join search-and-rescue operations. The floods ravaged a significant portion of the Nepal-Tibet border, prompting Chinese President Xi Jinping to issue a public call for an 'all-out effort' to rescue and evacuate affected individuals. The immediate focus now shifts towards locating survivors and initiating the reconstruction of roads, power projects, and other damaged or destroyed infrastructure.

Rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected areas are also critical priorities. These floods represent the most severe natural disaster Nepal has encountered since the 2015 earthquake, which claimed over 9,000 lives.