At least 469 people have tragically perished, and at least 1,500 remain missing across Nepal and China’s Tibet region following a catastrophic glacial collapse that unleashed a massive surge of mud and rock into the Bhotekoshi river, triggering widespread devastation across local towns and valleys. Authorities in Kathmandu, led by Chief District Officer Narendra Pariyar, have confirmed the death toll to 469, with at least three deaths in the neighboring Tibet region. The disaster, which began on Wednesday morning, has dramatically altered the landscape, with collapsed homes, floating vehicles, and a metal bridge being swept away, leaving many villages in ruins. Television images depict the sheer scale of the destruction, highlighting the rapid and overwhelming impact of the floodwaters. The initial surge entered the Lhende Khola river, which feeds into the Trishuli rivers, carrying floodwaters south through Nepal. Water levels in the Trishuli reportedly rose to an unprecedented 9 meters (27 feet) in just 30 minutes, creating a critical situation for downstream communities. Nepalese police have confirmed that the death toll from the floods as of Friday morning reached 469, with at least three deaths in the neighbouring Tibet region. Official nationality counts for the dead are still pending. Nepal’s Department of Tourism reported that 668 tourists from 34 countries had been out of contact since Wednesday morning, with at least 177 from India, 90 from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from the United Kingdom, and 25 from Canada, among others, highlighting the international ramifications of the tragedy. The situation has also impacted Nepal’s economy, with the country’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah leaving by road for Bidur in one of the worst-affected districts of Nuwakot to assess the flood situation. As the death toll continues to rise, authorities in Nepal are working on solutions to bury unidentified bodies by assigning a tag number to each body, a process that is proving to be a significant logistical challenge. The Post also reported that over 1,500 people were missing in Nepal and China’s Tibet region, with a significant portion of the missing individuals being trekkers and pilgrims travelling to Tibet’s Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a popular Hindu pilgrimage to a peak and lake sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. In Tibet’s Gyirong county, 558 people are reported missing, including 260 foreign nationals, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Sneha Sudhir, one of 10 women whose husbands had set out on a trek to Tibet’s Mount Kailash Yatra when the region was struck by disaster, is among the 10 women whose husbands had been missing. The men, all from northern Virginia, are among dozens of Americans missing. “Where are they?” Sudhir told the Reuters news agency tearfully from her home in Chantilly, Virginia, on Thursday. The family members are now working with local authorities and rescue teams to locate the missing individuals. In India’s Bhopal city, Devika Adhikari told the India Today television channel that her family was anxiously waiting for news about her elder brother, younger brother, and two sisters-in-law, who are missing in Nepal. The family last spoke to them at about 9.30am [03:45 GMT] on the day of the disaster. “In our last conversation, my elder brother told us that everyone’s lives were in danger and that they had hidden in the mountains. He also asked us to take care of the children,” she said. Rescuers in Nepal have deployed helicopters to search for survivors and drop emergency supplies to thousands of people cut off in a rugged mountainous area popular with trekkers and pilgrims travelling between Lhasa in Tibet and Kathmandu. The army had rescued 350 workers and residents trapped in a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli hydropower project, working in poor weather and high river flows. The rescue operation is being hampered by the roads and bridges damaged by the flood, according to Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez, reporting from the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. A mix of government and private helicopters have been drafted to fly into the areas to try to bring as many survivors as possible to hospitals to receive treatment for injuries that include broken ribcences and skin burns, and that the most critical area of concern is the recovery of the survivors. On Friday, Nepal News also reported that the army had rescued 350 workers and residents trapped in a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli hydropower project, working in poor weather and high river flows. Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah left by road for Bidur in one of the worst-affected districts of Nuwakot to assess the flood situation. Meanwhile, China’s Premier Li Qiang also visited the mudslide site in Tibet on Thursday afternoon to “guide emergency rescue and relief work” a day after the disaster. The formation of a barrier lake upstream of the Gyirong border port had begun to overflow. The Chinese government has offered support to Nepal. United States President Donald Trump said Washington had offered support to Nepal. “Nobody’s ever seen anything quite like that, where very powerful, strong, well-built buildings were wiped out like they were toothpicks. It’s a terrible thing. We are sending aid and we’ve spoken to the leadership and we let them know anything they want, they’ll have,” he said. On Friday morning, officials in Nepal’s Rasuwa district received a notice saying a lake had broken its banks, Chief District Officer Narendra Pariyar told media in the region. The lake is now rising, and the level is still unclear. Nepalese authorities said they had stopped rescue operations in the area for 90 minutes. Rescue teams are working with the Nepalese military to retrieve bodies from the water, but the situation is complicated by the ongoing damage to roads and bridges. The flood is expected to continue for several weeks, and officials are urging people to stay away from the affected areas. The situation remains critical, and authorities are emphasizing the importance of preparedness and cooperation to mitigate the impact of the disaster. China has also pledged support to Nepal. The international community is expressing deep concern and offering assistance, recognizing the significant humanitarian challenges posed by the unfolding disaster. The situation is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of climate change and the vulnerability of communities living near glaciers and rivers.”}””,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”,”
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Source: Al Jazeera
