Trishuli (TDI): At least 270 bodies have been recovered after catastrophic flash floods and landslides struck Himalayan border areas of Nepal and China’s Tibet, while nearly 1,500 people remain missing.
Nepal police said on Thursday that rescuers were continuing to search for survivors and recover bodies from towns and valleys cut off by Wednesday’s disaster.
India’s foreign ministry said at least 288 Indian nationals were missing in Nepal, including tourists and people working in the country, while another 200 Indians remained stranded in China.
Nearly 500 foreigners were among 826 people reported missing in Nepal. Those unaccounted for include 177 Indians, 63 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 25 Canadians.
In Tibet’s Gyirong county, 558 people were reported missing, including 260 foreign nationals, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. China’s death toll remained at three.
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The disaster was triggered when a massive wall of mud, rocks and ice collapsed into a Himalayan river, sending torrents of debris through settlements near the Nepal-China border.
Verified footage showed powerful flows of water and debris sweeping away people, vehicles and buildings at a border crossing. Roads, bridges and power infrastructure were also destroyed.
The US Geological Survey said an earthquake initially reported in the area was actually seismic energy generated by the collapse of glacial rock and ice, followed by a debris flow.
A preliminary analysis of satellite imagery indicated that an ice-and-rock landslide unleashed a flood in the Lhende River, around 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
More than 5,000 Nepali army and police personnel have joined rescue operations, with helicopters being used to evacuate survivors and deliver food, tents and other emergency supplies.
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Nepal’s army said 125 people, including 20 foreigners, were rescued on Thursday. Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah travelled to one of the worst-hit districts to assess the situation.
Rescuers face major challenges as roads, communications and electricity infrastructure have been severely damaged. In some areas, entire settlements along rivers have been swept away.
Many of those caught in the disaster were pilgrims travelling towards Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet, a sacred site for Hindus and Buddhists.
The United States said it would provide $500,000 in assistance and send a disaster response adviser. Canada said it was closely monitoring the situation, while UN teams and partner organizations were preparing supplies and personnel to support affected communities.
Chinese authorities have also warned of risks from a still-dammed lake in Gyirong, which could further complicate rescue efforts as more rain is forecast.
With hundreds still unaccounted for and many affected areas inaccessible, officials expect the death toll to rise further as rescue teams reach isolated communities.
