New Delhi: The death toll from devastating floods and landslides in Nepal and China’s Tibet has climbed to 270, while more than 1,600 people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue across the disaster hit regions.
Nepal has recorded 190 deaths and 1,130 missing people, while three deaths have been reported in Tibet along with 558 people still unaccounted for. Authorities are continuing to verify the figures, with the final toll expected to change as rescue teams reach areas that remain difficult to access.
The disaster began close to the Nepal China border before floodwaters surged downstream, causing widespread destruction across multiple districts. Powerful currents swept away roads and bridges, inundated settlements and damaged several hydropower facilities.
Rasuwa and Dhading have suffered some of the most severe destruction, with the flooding subsequently affecting areas including Nuwakot, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tanahu and Nawalparasi East.
Devighat in Nuwakot has been particularly badly affected, with homes, roads and buildings damaged and residents left stranded. The affected areas stretch from roughly 70 kilometres to nearly 200 kilometres from Kathmandu.
The floods destroyed vehicles and infrastructure while cutting off important transport links. Authorities have reported that 19 motorable bridges were washed away. A 42 kilometre road connecting Betrawati in Nuwakot with the Rasuwagadhi border crossing has also suffered major damage.
Footage from the disaster zone has shown powerful torrents of muddy water carrying rocks and debris through populated areas. Vehicles have been swept away, bridges have collapsed and buildings have been damaged or completely carried off by the floodwaters.
The continuing destruction has complicated rescue efforts, with some communities cut off from surrounding areas and emergency teams facing damaged roads and infrastructure.
Authorities on both sides of the border are continuing large scale search operations to locate missing people and establish the full extent of the disaster.
With thousands of families affected and infrastructure severely damaged, Nepal faces a major humanitarian and recovery challenge as rescue teams race against time to reach survivors and account for those still missing.
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