Flash floods devastate Nepal; death toll crosses 400, over 1,300 missing

NEW DELHI: The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has crossed 400, while more than 1,300 people, including 288 Indians, are still missing. Search and rescue operations have been intensified, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. Meanwhile, NORKA Roots confirmed that 53 Malayalis stranded in Nepal are safe.

The unexpected floods struck at around 9 am on Wednesday. Most of the Indians reported missing are pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar. Indians working at the Trishuli hydropower project are also among those missing. The Malayalis were visiting Nepal during the Onam holidays. They are from Kasaragod, Kannur, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts.

Of the 86 Tamil Nadu residents who were travelling to Kailash, 21 have been traced. Around 80 people, including foreigners associated with the Isha Foundation in Coimbatore, are missing in the Gyirong region of Tibet. Thirty-two pilgrims from West Bengal are also yet to be traced. More than 200 Indians are stranded in the China-Tibet border region. People from 33 countries are reportedly among those missing. Forty-five foreign nationals were airlifted from Rasuwa in Nepal on Thursday.

Glacial collapse triggers massive disaster

A 4.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the China-Tibet border region at 8.37 am on Wednesday. Around the same time, a massive section of the glacier near the 23,734-foot-high Langtang Lirung peak collapsed, triggering a huge avalanche of ice and rock. The debris crashed into the valley and entered the Lende Khola river, blocking its flow like a dam. As pressure built up, the blockage suddenly gave way, sending a massive surge of water and debris into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers.

The resulting surge swept through populated areas like a tsunami. Multi-storey buildings, vehicles and hundreds of people were washed away. Villages within a 50-km radius of Rasuwa were devastated. More than 20 major bridges, roads and power projects were damaged. Eastern Uttar Pradesh and northern Bihar, which share a border with Nepal, have also been placed on high alert.

India extends help to Nepal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah over the phone and assured him of all possible assistance. India has already allocated 47.5 tonnes of relief supplies. The Indian Army transported 10 tonnes of supplies to Nepal in a C-130 aircraft. The consignment includes food, medicines, tents and blankets. India will also send military personnel to help with relief work, including the construction of Bailey bridges. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held an online meeting with Indian ambassadors in Kathmandu and Beijing.

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Children among stranded Malayalis

NORKA Roots CEO Rajesh Madhavan said 53 people from Kerala have been identified based on information collected through various government helplines. The group includes both adults and children. Although phone numbers of most of them have been collected, authorities have not been able to establish contact with them. Thirty-six people are from Kannur and Kasaragod, while 16 are from Kottayam. The Chief Secretary’s Office is in contact with the Ministry of External Affairs and is sharing the available information.