Ramesh Pokhrela few seconds ago
105 Indians are among the 291 foreign nationals reported missing during the Nepal floods, according to the Nepal Tourism Board’s official statement. The statement also mentions that preliminary agency-wise records received from tourism and travel companies have identified 384 travellers and 93 Nepali nationals as missing from the affected areas.
Additionally, the government has issued an advisory to citizens on the matter.
The government has released an information portal titled the Bhotekoshi Flood Situation Update. The authorities have also released contact numbers for emergencies, search and rescue assistance, or other urgent support.
The numbers are-
Ministry of Home Affairs: 1234 (Toll Free Number)
Tourist Police: +977 9851289445 / 1144 (Toll Free Number)
How did the floods occur?
The floods were triggered by heavy flooding in Tibet and caused widespread damage in Nepal’s Rasuwa district.
Meanwhile, homes, shops, vehicles, and a bridge were damaged or swept away by the rising Bhotekoshi River.
The impact of the floods has also raised concern in Bihar. Eight districts, including West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, and Saran, have been placed on high alert.
The Disaster Management Department has warned of a possible flash flood wave of up to 3 metres in the Gandak River.
Footage of the flood in Nepal
Flood washed away helipad, rescue helicopter forced to turn back
A helicopter sent to rescue people trapped in Timure, Rasuwa, had to return to Kathmandu without landing. The local helipad had been washed away by floodwaters, leaving the pilot with no safe place to land.
The pilot told The Kathmandu Post that, when viewed from above, a large part of Timure village was barely visible. He said the water level in the Trishuli River rose suddenly and rapidly, as if water had suddenly burst out of a blocked river.
The floods and landslides are feared to have caused extensive damage in Timure. So far, there is no confirmed information on the number of deaths or the total extent of the damage.
Possible glacial lake outburst flood
Rasuwa received less than 7 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, so local rainfall is not believed to be the cause of the flooding. Officials suspect that a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Tibet may have sent a sudden surge of water into the Bhotekoshi River.
According to a 2020 ICIMOD-UNDP study, there are 122 glacial lakes in the Bhotekoshi basin. It has not yet been confirmed which lake may have burst. Satellite images and technical investigations are being used to identify the source.
Heavy damage is feared in Timure due to flooding and landslides. Authorities are currently assessing the exact number of deaths and the extent of the damage.
Flood also sweeps away hydropower project
The powerful floodwaters in Rasuwa swept away a hydropower project. The Chilime Hydropower Project and some other projects have also been damaged. The full extent of the damage is not yet known.
Interestingly, there was no rainfall around the Rasuwa district headquarters. Despite this, the water level in the Bhotekoshi River suddenly rose.
Officials said the exact cause of the flooding is still unclear. There are fears that water from a glacial lake in a high-altitude area may have suddenly been released, but this has not yet been confirmed.
People advised to move to safer areas
After the Bhotekoshi River rose, the risk of flooding in the Trishuli River further downstream has also increased.
People living along the river in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan have been advised to remain alert and move to safer areas if the situation worsens.
People living near the Trishuli River have also been asked to avoid entering the river, fishing or working along its banks.
PM Balen orders army deployment
Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah has ordered the deployment of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police for rescue and relief operations in flood-hit areas of Rasuwa.
Additional security personnel have also been sent from other districts.
Additional ambulances and medical staff are being sent to the affected areas. Balen has also ordered officials to immediately move people living in low-lying areas along the riverbanks to safer places.
Bhotekoshi was also flooded last year
The Bhotekoshi River originates in Tibet and flows into Nepal, where it joins the Sunkoshi River. The Sunkoshi later becomes the Saptakoshi, also known as the Koshi River, which enters Bihar, India.
The Bhotekoshi also caused major flooding in Nepal last year. Nine people were killed, and 24 others went missing.
The Friendship Bridge, which connects Nepal and China, was also washed away. As a result, road connectivity and trade between the two countries were disrupted for several months.
