Nepal Floods LIVE: Nearly 300 Indians Missing, 823 People Still Out of Contact
Nepal is battling a catastrophic flash-flood disaster after a massive glacial collapse and debris flow struck the Himalayan region near the Nepal-Tibet border. The disaster has left hundreds dead and more than 800 people still out of contact, while rescue teams continue searching through devastated areas.
Nepal Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said on Thursday that nearly 300 Indian nationals are among those reported missing, with most believed to be pilgrims travelling towards the Kailash Mansarovar region. He said the scale of destruction was enormous, with entire towns reportedly wiped out within hours.
823 People Still Out of Contact
Nepal's disaster management authorities said 823 people remained out of contact more than 24 hours after the devastating floods. The figure includes at least 579 tourists, comprising both Nepali and foreign nationals.
The disaster has particularly affected the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Powerful torrents of water, mud and rocks swept through settlements, damaging roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure.
The latest reports put the death toll at at least 165 in Nepal, while China has separately reported casualties and hundreds of missing people in Tibet. Reuters reported that almost 1,500 people were missing across Nepal and China's Tibet region in the latest combined figures.
Nearly 300 Indians Feared Missing
The situation has triggered growing concern in India because a large number of Indians were travelling through the affected region for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
Earlier figures from Nepal's tourism authorities had put the number of missing Indian nationals at more than 130, but Nepal's foreign minister and India's ambassador have subsequently referred to nearly 300 Indians whose families or authorities have been unable to establish contact with them.
Communication has been a major obstacle. India's ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, said communication networks and electricity had been disrupted, making it difficult to establish contact with people in the affected areas.
Rescue Operations Underway
More than 5,000 Nepalese army and police personnel have been involved in search-and-rescue operations. Helicopters are being used to evacuate survivors and deliver food, tents and emergency supplies to isolated communities.
India has also begun sending relief assistance to Nepal. Rescue teams and authorities are working to identify missing people and reunite survivors with their families.
What Caused the Nepal Floods?
The disaster was initially linked to reports of seismic activity, but the US Geological Survey said the event was caused by a collapse involving glacial rock and ice, followed by a destructive debris flow. The resulting surge travelled downstream with enormous force.
Rescue operations remain difficult because of damaged infrastructure, poor communications and the continuing risk of landslides and additional flooding. Authorities are urging people to avoid affected river valleys and rely on official updates as the search for missing people continues.
