SRINAGAR: At least 160 people were killed and hundreds remained missing after a massive flash flood and mudslide struck the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors along the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday, sweeping away settlements, hydropower facilities and parts of the route used by Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims.
Nepal Police put the death toll at 157, while Chinese authorities reported three deaths in Tibet’s Gyirong county. Nepal Police said 579 people — including 466 foreigners from 28 countries and 113 Nepalis — remained untraced, among them at least 133 Indians and 37 non-resident Indians.
At least 33 bodies were recovered about 150 km downstream at Chitwan, indicating the force and reach of the floodwaters.
Among the missing foreign nationals were 54 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, 24 Canadians, 19 Malaysians and eight South Koreans. Nearly 400 Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims, including Indians, were reportedly preparing to cross the Nepal-Tibet border or travelling through the affected region when the disaster struck.
Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told Parliament that 29 police personnel and 44 soldiers were among those missing after floodwaters swept away their barracks in Rasuwa. Customs officials, hydropower workers and other personnel stationed along the border corridor were also reported missing.
Dozens of workers at the 20MW Langtang Khola Hydropower Project remained unaccounted for, while security posts, customs facilities, banks and other establishments along the river corridor were damaged or swept away.
Rescue operations were hampered by bad weather, damaged roads, mud and high river levels. The Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force deployed helicopters, drones, boats and ground teams to search for survivors and those still missing.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah appealed for patience and unity as rescue and relief operations continued.
Across the border, floods and mudslides disrupted roads, communications and power supplies around Gyirong port, a key Nepal-Tibet crossing used by Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out efforts” to search for and rescue missing people.
Preliminary government estimates showed that at least 19 bridges and about 40 km of roads had been damaged or washed away, while 13 hydropower projects were affected and around 200 trucks were lost.
The Nepal government declared the worst-affected areas disaster-hit zones for three months and ordered free medical treatment for those injured in the disaster.
