New Delhi: A devastating flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border has killed more than 150 people and left hundreds missing, triggering a major rescue and relief operation across the Himalayan region. Among those reported missing are more than 100 Indians, many of whom were travelling to or returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
The disaster struck on Wednesday in Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts, with floodwaters and debris sweeping through settlements, roads, bridges and critical infrastructure. Official figures cited in reports said at least 484 people, including 105 Indians and 37 Non-Resident Indians, were missing as of Wednesday evening. The toll was expected to rise as rescue teams struggled to reach several affected areas.
The floods began shortly after 9 am local time and caused extensive destruction along the roughly 60-km route from Gyirong in Tibet through Rasuwa and Dhading. Nuwakot was among the worst-hit areas, with multi-storey buildings, trucks and other vehicles buried under mud and debris.
At least a dozen hydropower projects were also damaged or destroyed, affecting an estimated 700 MW of power generation. Several bridges over the Trishuli river were washed away, disrupting connectivity to important tourist destinations, including Chitwan and Pokhara.
More than 100 Indians reported missing
Most of the Indians reported missing were believed to be pilgrims or tourists travelling along the Rasuwa-Gyirong route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The region is a major route for the pilgrimage during this period despite the broader monsoon season.
Other foreign nationals reported missing included citizens of the United States, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands. Among those killed were personnel from Nepal’s security forces, including 44 Army personnel, 28 police personnel and 13 members of the Armed Police Force.
The Indian Embassy in Nepal said it was coordinating with Nepalese authorities to facilitate rescue and relief operations for affected Indian nationals. It also issued helpline numbers for Indians seeking assistance.
The Embassy of India in Beijing separately advised Indians stranded near the affected areas in Tibet to contact Chinese authorities or Indian diplomatic missions in Beijing and Kathmandu.
India sends relief material
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and expressed condolences over the loss of lives. Modi conveyed India’s readiness to provide “all possible humanitarian assistance” and said Indian teams were coordinating closely with Nepal on rescue and relief efforts.
India subsequently dispatched around 10 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief material and essential medicines to Nepal through an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft. The consignment included temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the assistance was intended to support Nepal’s response to the devastating floods. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal thanked India for its swift humanitarian assistance, describing it as a reflection of the strong bilateral partnership between the two countries.
Flood threat reaches India
The disaster has also prompted heightened vigilance in India because the swollen Trishuli river eventually flows into India as the Gandak river. The Centre has been monitoring the situation closely, particularly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with the chief ministers of both states and directed authorities to remain alert in vulnerable border areas. Additional National Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, while more teams have been kept on standby.
Two NDRF teams were sent to Bihar for deployment in West Champaran and Muzaffarpur, while another team was deployed in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar, an area considered vulnerable because of its proximity to the Gandak river.
Avalanche suspected as trigger
Scientists and disaster experts are investigating the exact cause of the flash flood. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said preliminary assessments indicated that a large volume of ice and rock debris may have entered the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi river.
An ice-rock avalanche from a glacier is currently considered a likely trigger. However, the precise cause remains unconfirmed. Nepal’s Foreign Minister had also referred to the possibility that an earthquake may have triggered an avalanche.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences reported a magnitude 4.4 earthquake in the region shortly before the disaster, while satellite imagery indicated that a landslide involving snow and rock may have generated the debris-laden flood.
Experts have also warned of the possibility of another flood if debris remains blocking the river upstream.
With rescue operations continuing, Nepal faces the difficult task of reaching isolated communities, locating missing people and restoring vital transport and communication links. The scale of the destruction has also renewed concerns over disaster preparedness and the vulnerability of the rapidly developing Himalayan region to extreme weather and geological hazards.
