Kathmandu (Gurpreet Singh): The death toll from the devastating Nepal-Tibet flash floods rose to 362 on Thursday, with 359 deaths reported in Nepal and three in Tibet, as rescue teams continued searching for hundreds of missing people. Among those yet to be contacted are 290 Indian nationals.
The disaster struck on Wednesday after an ice-rock avalanche triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border unleashed a massive flow of water, mud and debris. The torrent swept through settlements, destroying houses, roads, bridges and vehicles and damaging hydropower infrastructure.
The crisis is not over yet, with authorities warning of the possibility of another flood after a new barrier lake formed upstream near the Bhote Koshi river system.
290 Indians Remain Uncontactable, 84 Rescued
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said 290 Indian nationals remain uncontactable, and efforts are underway to establish their whereabouts and safety.
So far, 84 Indians have been rescued, including 63 workers employed at the under-construction Trishuli-I hydroelectric project and 21 people from Tamil Nadu.
The MEA also said around 200 Indian nationals on the Tibet side have sought assistance for evacuation.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a high-level meeting, joined virtually by India’s envoys in Kathmandu and Beijing, to review the situation. He said Indian authorities were coordinating with Nepal, state governments, tour operators and other agencies to trace affected nationals.
More Than 1,400 Reported Missing Across Nepal And Tibet
Nepalese authorities have reported 910 people missing, while another 558 people were reported missing on the Tibet side. This takes the combined number of people reported missing across the two regions to 1,468.
Rescue operations are continuing along river corridors covered with mud and debris, while helicopters, drones and ground teams are being used to reach isolated areas.
More than 800 people have so far been evacuated from affected districts in Nepal.
New Barrier Lake Raises Risk Of Another Flood
Concerns have increased after a new barrier lake formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers in Tibet, which feed into the Bhote Koshi river system.
Chinese authorities estimated that around 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated in the lake by Thursday morning, with another 3 million cubic metres potentially flowing into it over the next three days.
Authorities fear a breach of the natural barrier could cause another surge downstream.
Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has warned people to remain away from riverbanks in areas along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Rescue personnel and travellers have also been advised to exercise caution.
India Sends 47.5 Tonnes Of Relief Material
India has stepped up humanitarian assistance to Nepal following the disaster. After sending 10 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief material on Wednesday, another 37.5 tonnes of relief supplies, medicines and food packets were dispatched aboard a military transport aircraft on Thursday.
The total assistance sent by India has now reached 47.5 tonnes.
The disaster initially hit Nepal’s Rasuwa district after the avalanche and debris flow near the international border. The flood tore through Timure and Rasuwagadhi before moving downstream through the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system.
Preliminary assessments by Nepalese authorities and analysis by the US Geological Survey have pointed to a glacial collapse and subsequent debris flow as the trigger for the catastrophe.
