A catastrophic flash flood in Nepal has left a massive trail of destruction, with the death toll rising to at least 165 and more than 1,300 people still reported missing. The disaster struck the mountainous Rasuwa district along the Nepal-Tibet border, sweeping away villages, vehicles, infrastructure and several project sites.
The flash flood hit the Bhote Koshi River region at around 9 am on Wednesday, with reports indicating that the surge came from the direction of Tibet. Timure and nearby Syafrubesi were among the worst-affected areas.
The scale of the disaster has triggered a major rescue operation, with the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police deployed across Rasuwa and adjoining areas.
Army Steps Up Rescue Operations
The Nepal Army has deployed 14 helicopters along with specialised disaster-response teams to reach areas cut off by the flooding.
In one of the major rescue operations, 116 people trapped in Timure were brought to safety. Officials said the group included 95 Nepali citizens and 21 Indians. Seven additional Nepali nationals who had been trapped inside a tunnel were also rescued.
Authorities are simultaneously rushing essential supplies to the affected areas. Generators, temporary mobile towers, medical equipment, tents and machinery required to cut through metal and debris are being transported to locations where roads and communication links have been disrupted.
Tourists Among Those Missing
The disaster has also affected several international tourist groups travelling in the region.
A group of 47 people, including two children, remained missing after the flooding, according to their tour operator. The group consisted of 15 Australians, 10 Canadians, nine Nepalis, eight Americans, two Britons, two Singaporeans and one dual Russian-American citizen. The incident has raised particular concern in India, with several Indian nationals among those unaccounted for.
Kolkata Group Goes Untraceable
A 32-member group from Kolkata undertaking the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra was also among those who could not be contacted after the flash flood.
The group consisted of 30 pilgrims and two tour managers. They had left Kolkata on August 21 and entered Nepal the following day.
According to officials, the group reached Rasuwagadhi on Wednesday morning while preparing to cross into Tibet. Several members were at the immigration office at around 8.30 am when the sudden flood struck the border area.
The United States Geological Survey has provided a possible explanation for the sudden and devastating event. According to the agency, the seismic activity initially believed to have been caused by an earthquake was instead linked to a glacial collapse and debris flow.
The collapse triggered severe downstream impacts across parts of Nepal and Tibet, resulting in the sudden surge of water and debris that devastated communities along the Bhote Koshi River.
With communications disrupted and several areas still inaccessible, rescue teams continue to search for survivors while authorities assess the full extent of the destruction. The final death toll and number of missing people are expected to change as emergency teams reach more isolated locations.
