Death Toll Mounts to 162 as Nepal Battles Flash Floods

KATHMANDU, Aug 27: The death toll from the massive flash floods that struck Nepal on Wednesday has climbed to 162, with nearly 500 people, including 133 Indians, 37 NRIs and 81 security personnel, still missing, as the disaster caused widespread destruction across three districts.

At least 50 of the missing Indians were pilgrims on the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, officials said. Among the security personnel who have lost contact are 44 Army personnel, 28 Nepal Police personnel and nine Armed Police Force personnel deployed in Rasuwagadhi, Syafrubesi, Betrawati and other areas.

The flash flood struck the Bhotekoshi River area after an ice avalanche or ice-rock landslide blocked the Lendhe River near the Nepal-China border, according to a preliminary assessment by disaster management authorities.

The flood first hit Timure, near the Rasuwagadhi border crossing, sweeping away much of the settlement before surging downstream. With no rainfall reported in the area, residents had little warning as the torrent struck during the morning.

Rajendra Dhungana, chief customs officer in Rasuwa, and dozens of others escaped by fleeing into a nearby forest. More than 300 vehicles and trucks parked at the customs checkpoint were washed away.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said a debris-laden flood was triggered after an ice-rock landslide about 20 kilometres northeast of Rasuwagadhi blocked the Lendhe River. The flood subsequently entered the Trishuli River after passing through Timure.

Disaster expert Basanta Raj Adhikari also attributed the flooding to an ice avalanche upstream that blocked the Lendhe River.

Meanwhile, floods and landslides have disrupted road connectivity across nine districts. The Nagdhunga-Mugling highway, a key route connecting Kathmandu with other parts of the country, has been completely halted for an indefinite period.

Transport services have also been suspended on the Mechi Highway in Ilam, BP Highway in Kavre, Kanti Lokpath in Makawanpur, highways in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, Prithvi Highway in Dhading, the Chitwan-Jajarkot route and the Dolpa road section in Rukum West.

The floods have destroyed nine hydropower projects and nine commercial bank branches, while 19 motorable bridges and around 40 kilometres of highways have been swept away, according to a preliminary assessment.

The extent of damage to public and private property is yet to be ascertained. With hundreds still unaccounted for, security officials and disaster experts fear the catastrophe could rank among the deadliest disasters in Nepal’s modern history, potentially surpassing the country’s major disasters since the 1993 floods in Sarlahi, Rautahat and Makawanpur. (Agencies)