The death toll from flash floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border has risen to 623. Of these, 616 bodies have been recovered in Nepal. According to Chinese state media, seven more people have died in Tibet. A total of 2,482 people are still missing in the two countries.
As of Saturday morning (August 29), Nepal’s disaster management authority said 1,924 people were missing in the country, while 558 were missing in Tibet.
A massive avalanche triggered a flash flood on the Nepal-China border in the Himalayas on Wednesday (August 26). It caused extensive damage to riverside towns, roads, bridges, homes and important infrastructure. Girang, an important border trade hub between the two countries, was also damaged.
The heavy floodwaters have created a new lake with the accumulation of mountain debris. The water overflowing from there has raised the threat of new floods. The rescue operation was initially hampered due to the situation, but was later resumed.
Rescue teams from Nepal and China are continuing to clear the rubble and search for missing people, hampered by remote mountainous terrain, damaged communications and fears of renewed flooding.
320 Indians still missing
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said 21 Indians were rescued from flood-hit areas and brought to Kathmandu on Thursday. Another 63 Indians working at the Trishuli One hydroelectric project were rescued.
In addition, 96 Indians stranded in the Chinese part of the country have safely entered Nepal by land. However, it has not been possible to contact about 320 Indian nationals yet.
Humanitarian organizations have reported that more than 90,000 people in Nepal and China have been directly affected by the disaster. Efforts are underway to provide food, clean water, and medical services in addition to rescue efforts in the affected areas.
Sources: BBC, Reuters, AFP and NDTV.