Flood water level rises again in Bhotekoshi river: Nepal authorities

Kathmandu, Nepal's Bhotekoshi River saw another rise in flood waters on Sunday, following a devastating flash flood that struck the region. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has cautioned search and rescue personnel to stay vigilant in the affected districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Chitwan.

The death toll from the flash floods has risen to nearly 700, with 2,400 people still missing. Over 15,000 security personnel have been deployed for rescue operations, aided by helicopters that have been repeatedly used to evacuate stranded individuals and deliver relief supplies. The Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers were heavily impacted, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, settlements, and hydropower facilities.

In the Trishuli hydropower project site, Nepalese security personnel, with the help of Indian tunnel experts, are continuing efforts to evacuate those trapped in the tunnels, despite ongoing heavy rain. As of Saturday evening, 242 injured individuals from the Bhotekoshi flash floods had been admitted to various hospitals for treatment, with 135 already discharged, 29 referred to other specialized medical facilities, and 75 still undergoing treatment.

The disaster is believed to have been caused by a collapse or avalanche of ice and rock near the Nepal-Tibet border, leading to a massive torrent of water, mud, and debris flowing downstream, destroying towns and villages in several districts.