8 dead, 100 Indians missing as flash flood sweeps through Nepal’s Rasuwa district
Surge in Bhote Koshi river in Tibet causes flood; officials report extensive damage to roads, power infrastructure and bridges; rescue underway to find missing persons
At least eight people were killed after a massive flash flood, triggered by a surge in the Bhote Koshi River, swept through northern Nepal on Wednesday (August 26) morning, causing extensive damage to roads and power infrastructure and placing multiple downstream districts on high alert, officials said.
GLOF suspected
The flood surged through the Bhote Koshi River at around 9 am (local time), reportedly coming from the direction of Tibet.
While it is yet to be confirmed what caused the flood, a glacier that melted in Tibet is said to have caused the surge in the river. Officials are examining whether a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), or a landslide-related blockage could have caused the flash floods.
The Koshi River, which originates in Tibet, joins the Trishuli River in Nepal. It enters India as the Gandak River.
Bridge, houses swept away
The sudden rise in water caused widespread destruction in Timure in Rasuwa district and the nearby Syafrubesi area, with vehicles, goods and other property washed away in the floodwaters, the Nepal Army said in a statement.
Rasuwa district, which lies in the North-East of Kathmandu, around 125 km from the Tibet border, has a population of 50,000 people.
Rasuwa Chief Customs Officer Rajendra Dhungana said numerous vehicles and goods kept at the customs premises were swept away. A recently constructed bridge was also destroyed.
Also read: What is GLOF, the phenomenon that triggered Sikkim flash floods?
Rasuwa Assistant Chief District Officer Dhruva Prasad Adhikari said the scale of the flooding was unusually large and that the two settlements had suffered significant damage.
According to Nepal’s Energy Ministry, around 430 MW of electricity supply, mostly from hydroelectric project, was affected as the flood hit several hydropower and transmission facilities.
8 dead, 100 Indians missing
AFP, quoting police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle, said so far eight bodies have been found, and rescue operations are underway.
Reports say 26 Nepal police personnel and seven Armed Police Force personnel remain missing in Rasuwa.
Reports also say that over 100 Indians are missing following the floods. Alerts have been issued in areas of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that border Nepal.
Also read: Monsoon mayhem: Floods ravage Kerala, Odisha, Assam; IMD warns of more rain
The Nepal Army has reportedly rescued at least 25 people by Wednesday afternoon.
Reuters, quoting officials, said that while helicopters were deployed for rescue operations, water levels were too high for them to land in Syapru Besi and Timure, which have been worst-hit by the floods.
Authorities have also warned that the casualties could increase.
Relief measures underway
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRM) Nepal has issued a statement calling on people residing near the river banks of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and Gorkha to remain on high alert and take safety measures until further notice.
The Prime Minister's Office has said that Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel have been mobilised in Rasuwa and surrounding areas to intensify efforts for rescue and relief activities in view of the devastating flood.
Also read: Flood here, drought there: A tale of two Indias in monsoon
A high-level meeting is being called to discuss the situation in the aftermath of the flood and to take necessary measures to deal with the situation, according to the prime minister’s office.
Army personnel engaged in rescue operation. Photo: PTI
Nepal Army has already dispatched two helicopters to areas near the Trishuli River to carry out search and rescue work. An Army helicopter (MI 17) equipped with an Emergency Medical Rescue Team has already been mobilised towards the district hospital in Trishuli, the army said in a statement.
However, the details of the damage caused by the devastating flood are yet to arrive, as collection of data regarding the damage is underway, the Nepal Army said.
Damage on Tibet’s side
“Major casualties” and damage have also been reported on the Tibet side, with many people said to be missing at the Gyirong Port in the aftermath of the floods, Chinese state media reported.
It also reported that the flood has caused substantial damage to roads, communication and power supply in Gyirong county, which acts as a major China-Nepal border crossing.
Also read: Uttarakhand flash floods: What is a cloudburst?
In view of the situation, Chinese prime minister Xi Jinping has called for an all-out search and rescue operation to locate missing persons while asking authorities to strengthen early-warning systems to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Past floods
Just a year ago, two catastrophic floods hit Bhotekoshi, wreaking havoc in Rasuwa, killing at least 10 people.
The flood was a consequence of the sudden draining of a previously unnoticed 'supraglacial' lake. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Wednesday’s flooding was not caused by rainfall in Rasuwa.