Nepal – The death toll from a devastating flash flood along the Nepal-China border has risen to 157, while more than 400 people remain missing, according to Nepalese authorities.
Nepal Police have recovered 157 bodies following the sudden flooding in the country’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday morning. Authorities are also evacuating families from areas at risk of further flooding.
According to Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism, around 403 tourists were reported missing several hours after the disaster, including 341 foreign nationals.
Nepal Tourism Board officials said 142 of the missing foreigners are Indian nationals, including at least 133 pilgrims travelling to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. Citizens of Australia, Britain, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea and the United States are also among those reported missing.
Rescue teams are working against time to find survivors and recover bodies buried beneath mud and debris. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has pledged to deploy all available state resources for rescue and relief operations.
The flooding occurred after water reportedly surged from the Tibetan side at around 9am local time, causing the Bhotekoshi River to overflow. The border districts of Rasuwa, Dhading and Nuwakot are among the worst-affected areas.
India has moved quickly to provide humanitarian assistance following the disaster. According to NDTV, the Indian Air Force sent a transport aircraft carrying 10 tonnes of relief and medical supplies to Nepal. Rescue workers said entire settlements had been swept away by the floodwaters.
Prime Minister Shah said the suffering and losses caused by the disaster were immense, but stressed that affected people were not alone and that the state would stand beside them with all its available resources.
He also thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for expressing solidarity and offering humanitarian assistance.
Shah said Modi’s message of support and India’s offer of assistance reflected the longstanding friendship between the two countries, which Nepal deeply values.
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