GUWAHATI: At least 162 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing after massive flash floods swept through communities along the Nepal-China border, with authorities attributing the disaster to a glacial collapse that triggered seismic activity, causing catastrophic downstream impact.
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Nepal Police said late Wednesday, August 26, that 162 bodies had been recovered, while Chinese authorities reported at least three deaths in Tibet’s Gyirong County. Local officials in Gyirong reportedly warned of “major casualties” following the disaster.
Nepal’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism said around 579 tourists, including more than 400 foreigners, remained unaccounted for. Among the missing foreign nationals were 142 Indians, 34 Australians and others from Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Authorities have not yet released a figure for local residents still missing. Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle said 28 police personnel were also unaccounted for.
Security footage from the Chinese side showed a massive wall of mud and debris crashing into a multi-storey building as people fled the area. The flash floods affected communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, with television footage showing collapsed houses, vehicles being swept away and a metal bridge destroyed by the floodwaters.
Meanwhile, India has reiterated its support for Nepal and handed over 10 tonnes of humanitarian aid materials for relief operations.
Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava handed over the relief supplies to Nepal’s Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadka Raj Poudel. India said it stands firmly with Nepal and remains committed to extending all possible assistance in the aftermath of the devastating floods.