Nepal flash flood: 105 Indians missing, ‘major casualties’ in Tibet as many villages washed away; rescue op underway

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke with Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and expressed condolences over deaths in floods. He said India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal during the difficult period.

PM Modi also assured Nepal of India’s readiness to extend all possible humanitarian assistance, adding that Indian teams were coordinating with authorities on rescue and relief operations.

“Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal. The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time,” he said.

“India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal. Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts,” PM Modi added.

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said at least 105 Indians have been missing after a flash flood in the Bhote Koshi River swept through Nepal’s Nuwakot and Dhading districts. Eight people were killed in massive flooding in Nepal on Wednesday, while Chinese state media reported “major casualties” after a mudslide struck a trade hub in Tibet on the Chinese side of the countries’ shared border.

“So far, eight bodies have been found. Rescue operations are underway,” AFP quoted Nepal police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle as saying.

According to Nepali media reports, the floodwaters originated on the Tibetan side of the border before entering Nepal, causing extensive damage and sweeping away several villages in the affected areas. The flash flood surged through the Bhote Koshi River at around 9 am local time after originating on the Tibet side, affecting the border districts of Rasuwa and Dhading, as well as Nuwakot, southwest of Kathmandu, officials said.

As per NTB, 384 travellers, including 291 foreigners and 93 Nepalese nationals, have been reported missing following the Rasuwa floods. Among the missing are 105 Indian tourists and 37 NRIs, while the remaining travellers are from the US, Malaysia, the UK, South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands.

The NTB has issued emergency contact numbers for assistance: toll-free 1234, hotline 1144, and Tourist Police at 9851289445.

The Nepal Army said it has sent helicopters along with disaster response teams to the flood-hit areas to assist with rescue and relief operations.

The Nepal Electricity Authority mentioned the disaster had damaged power generation facilities with a combined capacity of around 430 megawatts, including hydropower and solar plants. "The disaster has damaged the production, transmission and distribution facilities of the Authority... resulting in disruption of electricity supply," it stated.

‘Quickly treat injured people and minimise casualties’: China's Xi Jinping

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday that “a mudslide disaster on the Nepalese side resulted in major casualties and missing people at the Gyirong Port” in Tibet.

The broadcaster released footage showing fast-flowing water carrying tree branches and debris, along with a flooded road.

(LiveMint couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the video)

State news agency Xinhua reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out” rescue efforts, although it did not provide details on the number of deaths or injuries.

According to CCTV, Xi noted “the most urgent task is doing everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people... quickly treat injured people and minimise casualties to the greatest extent possible”.

Traffic authorities in Tibet’s Shigatse warned on social media on Wednesday that roads in the region were “at risk of mudslides and unsafe for passage”.

Xinhua reported that 17 people went missing following a mudslide near Gyirong Port in July last year.

Monsoon rains between June and September frequently cause deadly floods and landslides across South Asia.

Scientists have said climate change is contributing to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region.

Qianggong Zhang, head of climate and environmental risks at ICIMOD, warned that another flood could be likely. "With a blockage still lodged upstream on the Nepal-China border river, authorities warn a second flood may occur," he said in an conversation with AFP.