SRINAGAR: The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal’s mountainous Rasuwa district rose to 95 on Wednesday after an ice-and-rock avalanche triggered torrents that swept through villages near the Tibet border, Reuters reported.
The floods have left hundreds of people missing and caused extensive damage to roads, bridges and power infrastructure, with authorities warning that the casualty figure could rise.
Nepal deployed helicopters for rescue operations, but high water levels prevented them from landing in the worst-hit areas of Syapru Besi and Timure, Reuters reported, citing officials.
According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), 384 people — 291 foreigners and 93 Nepalese nationals — have been reported missing following the floods in Rasuwa.
Among those missing are 105 Indian tourists and 37 non-resident Indians, while others are from the United States, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands. At least 59 of the missing Indians were pilgrims travelling for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, according to Samrat Tours and Travel agency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and expressed condolences over the loss of lives. Modi said India stood in solidarity with Nepal and was ready to provide humanitarian assistance, adding that Indian teams were coordinating with Nepalese authorities on rescue and relief operations.
The Indian Embassy in Nepal has also issued emergency contact numbers for Indian nationals affected by the disaster.
Authorities have issued alerts for areas near the Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar amid concerns over the impact of the flooding.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out” rescue operations and directed authorities to prioritise the search for missing people, treatment of the injured and efforts to minimise casualties. Chinese state media did not provide figures for deaths or injuries in Tibet.
The floods also affected areas around Gyirong Port on the Chinese side of the border. Xinhua reported that 17 people went missing after a mudslide near the trade hub in July.
Footage released by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed floodwaters carrying tree branches and debris and inundating a road. The footage could not be independently verified.
The World Health Organization is preparing to send basic medicines, medical equipment and 15 emergency tents to flood-affected areas along the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa, Kantipur reported, citing Nepal’s Health Ministry.
The ministry has allocated 100 emergency beds at Bir Hospital and the Trauma Centre in Kathmandu. Three injured people have so far been rescued and brought to the capital, according to the report.
Telecommunications services have also been disrupted. Ncell will provide affected customers in Rasuwa and Nuwakot with free data, voice services and 100 SMS messages for three days, Kantipur reported.
More than 25 Ncell towers and sites have reportedly gone offline after landslides damaged optical fibre links and disrupted power supplies.
The disaster struck Rasuwa, a district with a population of about 50,000, after an avalanche of ice and rock triggered the flash floods, causing widespread destruction across villages and critical infrastructure.
