Flash floods, caused by an ice-and-rock avalanche from a glacial collapse near the China border, have wreaked havoc across Rasuwa and other central Nepal regions. The disaster, described as one of the worst since the 2015 earthquakes, has resulted in a tragic loss of life and extensive destruction.
Hundreds Dead, Thousands Missing in Central Nepal
According to Nepal Police, the confirmed death toll has reached 626, with more than 2,400 individuals still unaccounted for. The powerful floods swept away homes, vehicles, critical bridges, and essential hydropower infrastructure, plunging communities into grief and uncertainty.
Authorities have issued warnings of potential further flooding due to the formation of a new lake in the affected region. Residents and rescue workers in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli areas are advised to remain vigilant and evacuate to safer locations if necessary, as fears of another sudden downstream surge persist.
Rescuers Reach Devastated Gyirong Immigration Center
Four days after the catastrophic event, Chinese rescue teams successfully reached the Gyirong immigration center, a crucial Nepal-Tibet border crossing that was completely engulfed by a massive wall of water and mud. The 21-member rescue team, accompanied by a search dog, faced immense challenges, having to trek through virgin forests and sheer cliffs after the main road to Gyirong was obliterated.
Rescue worker Zou Mingqi described the scene as 'complete devastation,' stating, 'At the complex, as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but ruins.'
Sadhguru's Team Among Those Stranded
An 80-member team from spiritual leader Sadhguru's Isha Foundation was at the Gyirong immigration center when the tragedy struck. Sadhguru confirmed in a video that his group, comprising 46 women and 34 men from 19 countries, had arrived at the checkpoint just minutes before the floods hit.
"Literally, the entire group was there at the building... This is a terrible and extraordinary event," Sadhguru stated, visibly emotional. "The same building where we were for the immigration just a week ago... that entire building is washed away."
Many Indian pilgrims, either en route to the Kailash Mansarovar yatra in Tibet or returning from it, were also present at the widely used Gyirong border port. Reports indicate that at least 130 people were near or inside the center during the floods.
Families Await News of Missing Pilgrims
- Friends and relatives of tour coordinator Syed Umar Farooq have lost contact with his group of over 50 Indian pilgrims.
- Sagar Pandey, CEO of US-based Himalayan Glacier, reported no contact with 40 travelers from his company.
- Rakesh Nayak, a 45-year-old software engineer, was inside the immigration office; his family has received no communication.
- Deepak and Madhu Ahuja, an Indian-origin couple from Texas on a Kailash pilgrimage, are also feared to have been inside the office.
The Ministry of External Affairs reported that approximately 320 Indians remain missing in Nepal, although contact has been established with around 400 citizens on the Chinese side.
CCTV footage from the Gyirong port region captured the terrifying moment a sudden surge of water and mud engulfed the multi-storey immigration office, showing people desperately trying to escape. Nepal now faces a severe humanitarian and infrastructure crisis, with ongoing rescue operations and the persistent threat of further natural disasters.