At least 133 Indians are among more than 400 people reported missing, while the death toll has risen to at least 95 after devastating flash floods swept through Nepal’s northern Rasuwa district near the Tibet border on Wednesday. The floods washed away homes, vehicles, bridges and infrastructure project sites. The disaster has also prompted a flood alert in Bihar, which shares a border with Nepal, as the waters continue to flow downstream.
A sudden surge of water entered the Bhote Koshi River from the Tibetan side at around 9 am, severely impacting the areas of Timure and Syapru Besi, according to officials. A mudslide also struck Tibet near the Gyirong border crossing, causing casualties and leaving several people missing, China’s state-run Xinhua reported. Meanwhile Chinese President Xi Jinping has also ordered all-out efforts to search for and rescue people missing after a mudslide in Nepal caused casualties at the Gyirong border port in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, reported Xinhua News. However, nine Armed Police Force personnel stationed in Timure, near the Nepal-China border, have been reported missing.
The flood also damaged police buildings and posts in Timure, Syaphrubesi and Rasuwagadhi, according to the Nepalese daily newspaper. Nepal Prime Minister chaired a high level meeting in the wake of the flash floods. The Nepal government has started large-scale rescue and relief operations. Two Nepal Army helicopters have been sent to the affected areas, while the Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have been deployed. Medical teams and ambulances are also being sent to the affected areas. The Red Cross and Scouts have been asked to help with relief work, while Prime Minister Balendra Shah has called an emergency meeting to review the situation. Meanwhile, the number of casualties, missing people and the overall damage are expected to be heavy, with villages swept away.
