New Delhi: Nepal has issued a fresh flood warning as rescue teams continue searching for thousands of people missing after a devastating glacial collapse triggered catastrophic flooding along the Nepal Tibet border.
Nepal’s disaster authorities have reported 903 deaths and 4,247 people still missing. On the Chinese side of the border, authorities have recorded 16 deaths and 546 missing people. The combined toll has now crossed 900, while the scale of the missing population has placed enormous pressure on rescue and relief operations.
Authorities in Nepal received warnings of increased water flow from upstream areas after Chinese officials detected further risks in the mountainous region. Water levels in the Bhotekoshi River have been rising, while fresh rainfall has complicated efforts to reach communities cut off by destroyed roads and bridges.
Chinese authorities have also warned about a newly formed water body in the mountains. A crater several kilometres upstream is believed to contain around 1.4 million cubic metres of water and remains under close observation because of the potential danger it poses to downstream areas.
In badly affected districts including Rasuwa and Nuwakot, families continue to search hospitals and rescue centres for missing relatives. With morgues running out of space and limited facilities for preserving bodies, authorities have begun burying some victims before identification is completed. DNA samples are being collected to help families identify and claim remains later.
The disaster has also severely affected hydropower projects. Hundreds of workers remain unaccounted for, with rescue teams drilling through debris and tunnels in attempts to reach those believed to be trapped.
Nepal has appealed for international assistance, particularly specialised equipment such as heavy lifting drones, forensic kits and refrigeration units for bodies. The government has warned that rebuilding damaged infrastructure could cost billions of dollars.
Several countries and international organisations have pledged emergency assistance as Nepal confronts one of its worst disasters in recent years.
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