‘Drama’ word misinterpreted: Shashi Tharoor clarifies X post on Nepal floods

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor clarified his use of the word "drama" in a social media post regarding the Nepal flash floods. He explained that he used the term to describe "intensely clashing forces" rather than minimizing the scale of the catastrophe. Tharoor, who had recently visited Kathmandu, tweeted that he arrived unaware of the drama unfolding in the hills that had caused significant destruction along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers.

The floods, potentially triggered by a glacier breaking off in Tibet or global warming, led to a severe and sudden flash flood. The death toll from the disaster rose to 469, with over 1,000 people still missing. Rescue efforts were underway, employing heavy machinery, helicopters, and sniffer dogs to search for survivors and the unaccounted for.

Damaged roads and bridges, coupled with challenging terrain, hindered access to several affected areas. Authorities were working against the clock to rescue around 100 individuals trapped inside a tunnel at a hydropower project that was inundated by the floodwaters.