Nepal flooding: 'We are disconnected from Kathmandu'

Following a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday, the death toll has surged into the hundreds, though the full extent of the devastation remains unknown. Villages in the affected regions are both physically and electronically isolated from Kathmandu, the capital. Bidhya Rajput, a journalist based in the capital, recounted how her home in the Sole village of Nepal's Nuwakot District was completely washed away by the Trisuli River.

Only a few villagers managed to escape by fleeing towards the hills, while others were unable to reach safety as the floodwaters arrived rapidly. The government has declared Nuwakot, along with Rasuwa and Dhading districts, as the most impacted by the deadly floods. Bidhya's husband's parents are among the many missing, presumed to have been caught in the flood while returning home from work.

Communication with the village has been cut off since early Thursday morning, with no electricity or mobile connectivity. The government's rescue and relief efforts have primarily focused on larger cities, with no assistance reaching Sole yet. Villagers recall that the same area experienced flooding last year, but they managed to reach higher ground and avoid the severe flooding witnessed this time.

However, the early warning system failed to alert the villagers in time, leaving them unprepared for the massive flood. While the government issued a warning, many people underestimated the scale and speed of the floodwaters. Two bridges and several hydropower dams, including the main bridge over the Trishuli River, have been destroyed, disconnecting the area from Kathmandu.

Over 3,000 people are still missing, including numerous foreigners, and Nepal's neighbors India and China are cooperating with Kathmandu on the disaster response. Rescue teams are airlifting survivors to the capital and building makeshift shelters for the displaced. The extent of the destruction is overwhelming, with entire villages swept away and numerous lives tragically lost.

The government admits they were unprepared for such a massive disaster and are mobilizing all available resources, including helicopters, to save survivors and deliver aid. Scientists are still investigating the cause of the flood, with theories ranging from an avalanche on the Nepali side of the Nepal-China border to a subglacial lake releasing its contents.