Kathmandu. A massive flood on Wednesday morning caused massive destruction in the districts of central Nepal bordering Tibet, in which 46 people died and about 500 people, including 105 Indians, are missing. The floods devastated towns and villages, washed away bridges and damaged at least a dozen hydroelectric projects. Officials said there was a sudden flood in the Bhote Koshi river at around 9 am local time, affecting Rasuwa and Dhading districts bordering Tibet. The flood then spread to Dhading, Nuwakot and Chitwan districts, damaging at least four permanent bridges and some temporary bridges.
According to preliminary study reports based on analysis of satellite images, the flood was caused by landslides of unstable mountain rocks near the Nepal-Tibet border. This place is about 20 kilometers north-east of the Tibet-Rasuwagadhi border area. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said that due to rock slide and rise in water level in Lende river located on Nepal-Tibet border, severe flood water and debris spread to Trishuli river through Bhotekoshi in Timure. Officials said at least 46 people have died in the floods in various districts.
105 Indians missing while going to Kailash Mansarovar
Nepal's Home Ministry said in a statement that six people died in Dhading, three in Nuwakot and one in Rasuwa. The nearly 400 missing include at least 105 Indians and 37 non-resident Indians (NRIs). Apart from this, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal told in the House of Representatives that 80 security personnel including 44 soldiers of Nepal Army are missing at various places. According to the Hydrology and Meteorology Department, the flood that occurred on Wednesday was not caused by the rain in Rasuwa. Nepal's Flood Forecasting Division (NDRRMA) said in a post on 'X' in the afternoon that according to the information received from the Chinese side, the water of the lake formed at the place of blockage of the river has not yet completely drained, hence the danger still remains in Bhote Koshi and Trishuli areas. The division appealed to people to stay away from rivers and stay in safe places.
Later in the day, the NDRRMA said in a post on People are urged to stay away from the river and remain in safe places until further notice is issued.'' The worst affected by the floods is Rasuwa, which is located near the Tibet border, about 125 km north-east of Kathmandu. In the video rapidly circulating on social media, massive devastation is visible in Rasuwagadhi located on the Nepal-China border.
In this purported video, a huge wave with strong current can be seen passing over the two-storey building and sweeping away everything in its path. Many people were first seen running after hearing the sound of incoming water, but within seconds they were buried under the mud and debris accumulated after the flash flood. Pictures and videos of the devastation in settlements located on the banks of Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers remained viral on social media.
Nearly 400 people, including at least 105 Indians and 37 non-resident Indians (NRIs), are missing after massive floods hit Nepal's Rasuwa district. Most of these Indians were going for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet. According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a total of 384 tourists are missing due to the floods in Rasuwa, including 291 foreigners and 93 Nepali citizens. NTB said in a statement that apart from Indians and NRIs, the missing tourists are from the US, Malaysia, Britain, South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands. According to Samrat Tours and Travel Agency, at least 59 Indians were pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Indian Embassy issued emergency numbers
The Indian Embassy has issued emergency numbers for assistance and information to Indian citizens affected by the flash floods in Nepal. The Indian Embassy, in another post, said it is in constant touch with the concerned authorities of the Government of Nepal for the rescue and relief of Indian citizens affected by the floods. The embassy said rescue and relief efforts are being further strengthened in coordination with the Government of Nepal. Nepal Tourism Board has also issued a toll-free emergency number for assistance. According to 'The Kathmandu Post', the flood in Bhotekoshi river washed away the 42 km long road connecting Betravati in Nuwakot to Rasuwagadhi border post in Rasuwa. The newspaper quoted Shubharaj Nyupane, Deputy Director General and spokesperson of the Roads Department, as saying that flood waters destroyed roads at many places and several concrete bridges were also washed away.
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) in a statement appealed to people living along the river banks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and Gorkha to remain extremely alert and adopt safety measures until further notice. Assistant Chief District Officer, Rasuwa, Dhruv Prasad Adhikari said the flood was catastrophic and two settlements were heavily damaged. Rasuwa Chief Customs Officer Rajendra Dhungana said that many vehicles and goods kept in the customs premises were washed away. A recently built bridge was also destroyed. This place controls the trade traffic of Nepal connected to Tibet and China.
Emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah
According to a statement from the Independent Power Producers Association Nepal (IPPAN), eight operational hydropower projects and five under construction projects with a total capacity of 354 MW in Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts have been damaged by the flash floods. Major operational hydroelectric projects damaged by floods include Rasuwagadhi Hydroelectric Project (111 MW), Sanjen Khola Hydroelectric Project (78 MW) and Upper Trishuli-3A (60 MW). 'The Kathmandu Post' quoted Chameli Gurung, vice-president of Uttargaya Rural Municipality, as saying that about a dozen settlements including Syafroobesi, Betravati, Melung, Sallettar, Shantibazar, Parebesi, Khalti Basti, Sole, Trishuli and Battar have been affected. After an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah to take stock of the situation, Nepal Army, Armed Police Forces and Nepal Police personnel were deployed in the affected areas for rescue and relief operations.
Nepal Army launched rescue operation after flood
Nepal Army deployed 12 helicopters to conduct search and rescue operations following the flash floods, according to an army statement. Six people were rescued from Syafrubesi, two from Melung and four from Dhunche in Rasuwa district. The Nepal Army has also set up a treatment center at Military Training Center No. 1 in Trishuli, where army medical personnel are providing emergency medical care to the affected people, the statement said. According to an Army statement, an MI-17 helicopter equipped with emergency medical rescue teams was also sent towards the district hospital at Trishuli. Security forces rescued more than 80 people stranded at various places due to floods.
Local media, quoting Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle, said that the area police office in Timure, Syafrubesi police post and Rasuwagadhi police post were also damaged. Armed Police Force spokesperson Netra Bahadur Karki said that four Armed Police Force personnel are missing from Rasuwa after the flood. Five drones have been deployed to help in rescue and relief operations. Three trained sniffer dogs have also been sent to the affected area. President Ramchandra Paudel expressed grief over the loss of life and property caused by floods in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Last year too, Bhotekoshi had suffered devastating floods twice, causing massive destruction in Rasuwa and killing at least 10 people.
India stands in solidarity with Nepal in this difficult time: President Murmu
Expressing deep condolences to his Nepali counterpart Ramchandra Paudel and the people of the neighboring country in the wake of the devastation caused by the sudden floods in Nepal on Wednesday, President Draupadi Murmu said that India stands in solidarity with Nepal in this difficult time. Several districts of central Nepal were hit by massive flash floods in Tibet on Wednesday, leaving at least 46 people dead and around 500 people, including 105 Indians, missing. Security officials said that so far 46 bodies have been recovered from the flood affected areas. President Murmu said in a post on the social media platform 'X' that India is ready to cooperate in the relief and rescue operations of the Nepal government to help the people affected by this disaster.
The President said, “I express my deep condolences to the President of Nepal Ramchandra Paudel and the people of Nepal on the devastation caused by the flash floods today. We express our solidarity with Nepal in this difficult time.'' Officials said that Rasuwa and Dhading districts bordering Tibet were affected due to flash flood in the Bhote Koshi river at around 9 am local time. Subsequently, floods also hit Dhading, Nuwakot and Chitwan districts and at least four permanent and some temporary bridges were damaged. The missing include at least 105 Indians and 37 non-resident Indians (NRIs). Most of them were going for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet.
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