Flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border – likely triggered by an avalanche of ice and rock that fell into the Bhotekoshi River – have killed at least 177 people. The number of dead is expected to increase as the Nepal government restores communications with more remote areas.
“This will go up… as we have resumed the search and more bodies will be recovered,” Abi Narayan Kafle, a police spokesperson, told Reuters.
Also, over 1,500 people – including an estimated 300 Indians – are still missing. Nepali tourism officials said more than 400 people from other countries are also missing.
The flash flood also ripped through buildings, swept away entire villages, and destroyed roads, bridges, and power plants, plunging the Himalayan nation into chaos not seen since the 2015 earthquake that killed over 9,000 people and caused billions of dollars in damages.
Initial studies suggest the floods were caused by a collapsed glacier in the mountains.
There was speculation that this, in turn, was caused by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake at the Nepal-Tibet border. The United States Geological Survey later confirmed the ‘earthquake’ was a glacial collapse that ’caused subsequent catastrophic impacts downstream’.
A flash flood in the same region – i.e., the Rasiwagadhi / Trishul river basins – caused by heavy rains and a glacial outburst killed nine people and washed away a ‘friendship’ bridge.
Here’s what we know so far
01
Massive regional toll
Nearly 1,500 people are missing in Nepal and Tibet after catastrophic floods and mudslides hit the region.
02
Severe impact on Indians
More than 300 Indians are missing in flash floods, said Nepal Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal.
03
Consular verification underway
Nepal’s tourism authorities have said that at least 105 Indians and 37 others registered as Non-Resident Indians are among those whose location is unclear. These numbers include dozens on the Kailash Mansarovar yatra. A state-wise break-up of missing Indians includes 37 people from Maharashtra, 53 from Kerala, 20 from Tamil Nadu, and seven from Andhra Pradesh.
04
PM Modi speaks to Nepal's Balendra Shah
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Nepal counterpart, Balen Shah, hours after the disaster, and assured support. Shortly after that call, Indian military aircraft - including C-17 and C-130 transport planes - were prepped and ready to join search-and-rescue efforts. And on Thursday morning, India confirmed it had handed over 10 tonnes of aid materials.
05
Global missing toll
Among the missing tourists, 47 were from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from Britain and 24 from Canada, Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson for Nepal's tourism board, told the Associated Press news agency.
06
Pilgrims caught in disaster
Sharma told the Associated Press that 133 of the tourists were from India on a pilgrimage.
07
Cross-border aid dispatched
In India, there is unease in the northern parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, both of which share a border with Nepal. After the flash flood on Wednesday, alarms rang in both states and water levels of the Gandaki River system - which flows from Nepal - were monitored. There is some flooding in border villages and advisories have been issued, but no major event has been reported.
08
Tibet sector numbers
The tally of the missing in Tibet's Gyirong county was 558, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said on Thursday, including 260 foreign nationals.
09
Intensified rescue operations
The Prime Minister of Nepal’s office, in a Facebook post, informed that Nepal has intensified search, rescue and relief operations in areas affected by severe flooding in Rasuwa’s Bhotekoshi River.
10
Emergency helplines activated
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu has issued updated emergency helpline numbers for people seeking assistance amid the Nepal disaster. The numbers are available for emergency contact and can also be reached through WhatsApp.
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