Water level at Nepal flash floods site rises, rescue teams race against time

Here are 10 big points

1. 01

   Two-foot rise in the water level

   A two-foot rise in the water level has been recorded at the site of the devastating floods. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority earlier told people involved in rescue work to stay alert.

2. 02

   Breach in Tibet barrier lake

   Earlier, Chinese officials had warned Nepalese counterparts about a breach in a barrier lake in Tibet, but the latest reports suggest the overflow from the lake has stopped.

3. 03

   Death toll

   The death count of the natural calamity has touched 495 and hundreds, including 290 Indians, are missing. The Centre has said nearly 200 Indians are stranded on the Chinese side of the border.

4. 04

   Rescue efforts

   Rescue teams have now reached an affected hydropower project site in Nepal’s Rasuwa district where people have been stranded for two days. Officials said around 350 people have been rescued from different project sites.

5. 05

   Missing Indians

   Fifty-three people from Kerala, including many non-resident Keralites, seven from Andhra Pradesh, three from Tamil Nadu and a couple from Odisha are among the Indians missing after the calamity.

6. 06

   State governments set up helplines

   The Centre has asked state governments to share details of those missing after the disaster. Multiple states have set up helplines that worried family members can dial for updates.

7. 07

   Helpline numbers

   The Embassy of India in Kathmandu has issued updated helpline numbers for people seeking assistance. These are +977 985 131 6807, +977 970 910 7500, +977 981 032 6117.

8. 08

   Missing pilgrims

   Many of those missing were on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Isha Foundation, led by Sadhguru, has said it had lost contact with an 80-member international group returning from the pilgrimage.

9. 09

   Himalayan region’s vulnerability

   The devastating flooding in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river is yet another reminder of the Himalayan region’s vulnerability to major disasters.

10. 10

    Triggered by a rock and ice avalanche

    This disaster is currently understood to have been triggered by a rock and ice avalanche, a result of a large block of glacier in the upper reaches of the Bhotekashi river (the lower side is called the Trishuli) falling off.