Devastating floods in Nepal leave 384 missing, including 105 Indians
At least 384 people, including 105 Indians, are reported missing after a sudden flood in the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal's Rasuwa district.
Nepal's Rasuwa district reported at least 384 missing travellers, including 105 Indian nationals, after a sudden devastating flood in the Bhote Koshi River on Wednesday. According to a preliminary list prepared by the Nepal Tourism Board, this includes 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens.
According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, the Nepal Tourism Board, tourist police, and other organisations related to the tourism sector are coordinating with travel agencies, guides, local administration, and security agencies to locate travellers present in or passing through the affected area. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, this preliminary list is based on information from 10 tourism and travel agencies whose travellers were present in or passing through the affected area.
Besides the 105 Indians, the list includes citizens from Australia, the Netherlands, the USA, Malaysia, the UK, and South Africa. The nationality of many foreign travellers is still unclear. The list also includes 37 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
According to the agency,
92 travellers from Trekkers Society are reported missing, the highest number from any one company on the list. Following this, 71 from Samrat Tours & Travels, 55 from Leaf Holiday, and 52 from Himalayan Glacier are reported missing. Additionally, 31 from Kailash Journey, 27 from Fishtail Tours & Travels, 20 from Alpine Eco Trek, 17 from Kathmandu Holiday Tours & Travels, 12 from Richa Tours & Travels, and 7 from Explore Vacation are listed as missing.
The Nepal Tourism Board has clarified that these figures are preliminary and verification is ongoing. Officials are trying to confirm the status and whereabouts of each traveller. The board has appealed to travellers and their families to remain calm and not draw conclusions about those listed until the verification process is complete.
A large number of the missing are reported to be pilgrims heading to Tibet for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Bashu Kumar Adhikari, Managing Director of Kathmandu-based Touch Kailash Travels & Tours, stated that,
a total of 390 pilgrims, including 93 Nepali citizens, were to cross the border on Wednesday. According to The Kathmandu Post, Adhikari said that contact had not been established with most of the pilgrims by 3 PM, except for a few.
Sagar Pandey, President of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal, stated that efforts are ongoing to contact the pilgrims and ascertain their status. Local media, citing Nepal Army officials, reported that at least eight deaths have been confirmed, while more than 25 people had been rescued by Wednesday afternoon. According to the police, four bodies were recovered in Bidur Municipality of Nuwakot district, near the Trishuli River.
The Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police have been deployed in the search and rescue operation. In addition to 14 helicopters, drones and trained sniffer dogs are being used to search for the missing.
According to the Nepal Army, six people were rescued from Syafrubesi, two from Melung, and four from Dhunche. The army has also set up a treatment centre at Military Training Centre No. 1 in Trishuli to provide emergency medical assistance.
Initially, reports indicated that four personnel from the Armed Police Force were missing from Rasuwa. Another report stated that nine security personnel stationed at Timure near the China-Nepal border were also out of contact. The exact cause of the sudden rise in water levels in the Bhote Koshi River is still unclear. Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has stated that the flood was not caused by rainfall in Rasuwa.
Officials are investigating whether the incident was caused by a glacial lake burst, landslide, or any other natural event on the Tibetan side. Dinkar Kayastha, an information officer from the department, said that the matter is still being studied and the exact cause has not been determined. He also warned that the threat from the Tibetan side is not yet completely over, and people need to remain vigilant.
Officials have received informal information that a river's flow might have been temporarily obstructed due to a landslide in Tibet, and the sudden release of water might have caused the flood. However, this has not yet been confirmed. Rasuwa has emerged as the most affected district by this disaster. There has been significant damage in Timure and Syafrubesi. Vehicles and goods parked in the customs area were swept away by the flood. A recently constructed bridge was also destroyed. Several settlements along the riverbank have been affected, including Syapru Besi, Betrawati, Melung, Salletar, Shanti Bazaar, Paire Besi, Khalte Basti, Sole, Trishuli, and Battar. A bridge in Gajuri of Dhading district was also swept away by the flood.
The flood has severely impacted Nepal's crucial trade route with Tibet. Significant infrastructure damage has occurred at the Rasuwagadhi border crossing point with China.
The flood has also affected Nepal's hydropower sector. According to the Independent Power Producers' Association Nepal, eight operational hydropower projects with a total capacity of 354 megawatts and five projects under construction in Rasuwa and Nuwakot have been affected. The affected operational projects include the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, the 78 MW Sanjen Khola Hydropower Project, and the 60 MW Upper Trishuli-3A Project.
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has placed several low-lying areas, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, and Gorkha, on high alert. Authorities have urged people living along the banks of the Trishuli and other rivers to avoid going near the river and move to safer locations. Tourists in the affected areas are also advised to remain calm, keep an eye on official information, and follow safety instructions.
According to local media, people in need of emergency assistance can contact 1234 or 1144. Additionally, they can reach out to the tourist police at 9851289445. People can also inform the nearest police or security post, local administration, travel agency, guide, or tour operator.