Hundreds Missing After Devastating Floods
Nepal's government has published a list of 537 foreign nationals whose whereabouts remain unknown following severe flash floods and landslides that struck the country on Wednesday, August 26. The disaster has tragically claimed 475 lives as search and rescue operations continue.
The list of missing persons includes a significant number of Indian nationals, totaling 178. Other nationalities accounted for among the missing include 65 Americans, 53 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 33 Australians, and 33 citizens from the United Kingdom. Families from various countries are anxiously awaiting news regarding their relatives.
Rescue Operations and Mounting Casualties
Nepal Police reported the death toll reached 475 as of Friday morning. Meanwhile, the Nepali army has successfully rescued 900 people from some of the worst-hit areas, including the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Among those rescued were 119 foreign nationals, with 92 identified as Indian citizens. All rescued individuals are reportedly receiving medical treatment in hospitals.
Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet, an army spokesman, acknowledged that persistent rain and unpredictable weather conditions are severely hampering rescue efforts. "We're trying to intensify the rescue operations, in close coordination with all stakeholders," Basnet stated, describing the event as the worst disaster he has witnessed.
Cause of the Disaster and Infrastructure Damage
The catastrophe began on the morning of August 26 when a massive section of glacier and rock collapsed in the high Himalayas near the Nepal-Tibet border. This event sent a huge volume of ice, rock, and debris into the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi river system. The resulting sudden surge caused destructive flooding and landslides along the river corridor, sweeping through settlements in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Chitwan districts.
The floods have inflicted extensive damage on Nepal's infrastructure. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that 80 bridges and 40 kilometers of paved roads have been destroyed. Many of these routes were critical for trade between Nepal and its second-largest trading partner, China, exacerbating economic challenges for the nation.
Ongoing Threats and International Concerns
Adding to the crisis, authorities are monitoring a barrier lake that formed after a landslide near the Nepal-Tibet border. Chinese state media initially reported an overflow from the lake, prompting a temporary suspension of rescue operations in the immediate vicinity. While the overflow has since stopped and water levels have dropped, the situation remains under close surveillance with CCTV cameras installed by Chinese authorities.
On the Tibetan side of the border, Chinese authorities have confirmed three deaths and 558 missing persons, with 555 tourists evacuated. It remains unclear if these figures overlap with those reported by Nepal. Search teams continue to look for hundreds of people, including laborers believed to be missing inside a hydropower tunnel in Trishuli.
Among the individual cases drawing international attention is that of Neetu Goyal Tiwari, a 51-year-old British citizen missing since the floods. Her family, who last knew she was at the immigration office in Gyirong, has appealed for help in locating her.