A massive flash flood swept through Nepal after passing through the Tibet-Nepal border on Wednesday, August 26, toppling and sweeping away buildings and people in a high torrent of mud, water and ice. At least 160 people were killed and several hundreds went missing in Nepal and the Tibet region of China, various sources told the media. The death figures are likely to rise, said authorities.
Bridges were smashed into pieces and multi-storey buildings were swept off their foundations in the deluge, snatches of which were caught on mobile phone videos by terrified, screaming witnesses. Many videos showed giant masses of muddy water rising higher than buildings and overwhelming the whole area in the Himalayan valley as it rushed ahead, tearing residential and commercial areas on its path.
The flooding was likely caused by the snapping of a huge chunk of ice off a glacier at a high altitude, according to assessments by geologists and glaciologists. The impact of the deluge was the equivalent of a 5.2-magnitude earthquake and crushed the ice into a fast-moving mix of water, ice and rock, said The New York Times, quoting scientists studying the disaster.
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The flash floods on the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal led to the death of 157 people and caused extenbsive damage in the Himalayan country’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts. Among the 384 people missing were 291 foreign nationals, including 105 Indians and the rest Nepalis, according to Nepal Tourism Board.
Among the missing Indian citizens are several working at the Tishuli hydroelectric project, said sources. Nearly 37 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu were among the missing in Nepal till Wednesday night.
Only three deaths were reported in the Tibet region of China, but Chinese state news agency Xinhua said there had been “significant” casualties at the Gyirong port of entry along the border with Nepal.
Rescue operations were started immediately by the Nepali Army, which airlifted at least 114 people to safety. Twelve helicopters were deployed for rescue activities by the army, and a temporary hospital was set up in a worst-hit flood-hit area. At least 25 seriously injured people were evacuated to Kathmandu.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Nepali counterpart Balen Shah and offered condolences and support. India is sending two military planes carrying aid and relief material to Nepal, said officials in New Delhi.
