Kathmandu: Rescue teams in Nepal are searching for hundreds of people after a sudden surge of water swept through parts of the Himalayan country near the border with Tibet, killing several people, destroying bridges and roads and leaving a large number of travellers unaccounted for.
The disaster struck in Rasuwa district in northern Nepal, particularly around Rasuwagadhi and Timure. The Bhote Koshi River rose suddenly and powerful floodwaters moved through settlements and infrastructure in the area. The force of the water damaged roads, swept away bridges and affected buildings and vehicles.
The situation has caused particular concern in India because many of the people reported missing were travelling through Nepal as tourists or pilgrims. A preliminary list included hundreds of travellers, with Indian nationals making up a significant number. However, the exact number of Indians who remain missing is still being checked as authorities contact travel agencies, families, guides and local officials.
Early reports said 105 Indians were among those listed as missing. Later reports suggested that the number could be higher, with another preliminary assessment putting the number of Indian tourists and people of Indian origin who could not initially be contacted at 142. Officials have warned that these figures should not be treated as confirmed deaths or confirmed cases of people trapped by the floods. The lists are changing as communication is restored and authorities establish the whereabouts of different groups.
Many of the travellers were believed to be on their way to Tibet for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. The route through northern Nepal is commonly used by pilgrims travelling toward the Tibetan region, making the disaster especially worrying for families waiting for news from relatives.
Nepal has launched a major rescue operation involving the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police. Helicopters have been sent to areas that cannot be reached by road, while drones and search teams are being used to locate stranded people. Some survivors have been rescued by helicopter, while others have reportedly been brought to safety using rescue baskets in places where aircraft cannot land.
The operation is being made difficult by widespread damage to roads and bridges. Some communities remain difficult to reach, while communication problems have also slowed efforts to establish contact with people who may be stranded.
The flooding has also caused serious damage to infrastructure. The Rasuwagadhi border area, which is an important trade route between Nepal and Tibet, has been badly affected. Customs facilities, roads and bridges have suffered damage, disrupting movement across the border.
Nepal's hydropower sector has also been hit. Several hydropower projects in the affected region have suffered damage or disruption, with hundreds of megawatts of electricity generation reportedly affected. The damage could create further economic difficulties for communities and businesses already dealing with the consequences of the disaster.
Authorities are also watching river levels farther downstream. Areas in Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan have been placed on alert because floodwaters can continue to create dangerous conditions as they move through the river system.
One of the biggest questions is what caused the sudden rise in the river. Officials have indicated that the flooding was not caused by heavy rainfall in Rasuwa at the time of the incident. Investigators are considering whether a landslide, a glacial event or another sudden release of water may have triggered the surge. The exact cause has not yet been established.
For families in India and other countries, the immediate priority is finding missing relatives. Authorities are continuing to compare passenger lists, travel records and information from rescue teams.
The death toll could also change as rescuers reach areas that remain isolated. For now, officials are focusing on saving lives, restoring communication and determining how many people are still missing.
The disaster has highlighted the dangers faced by travellers in the remote Himalayan region, where sudden changes in river conditions can turn a normal journey into a life threatening emergency within minutes. As rescue operations continue, Nepal is facing the difficult task of reaching isolated communities while also dealing with major damage to transport, tourism and energy infrastructure.