Kathmandu: The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 626, while 2,426 people remain missing as authorities continue rescue and relief operations in areas affected by a massive flow of water, ice, mud and debris.
The disaster struck on August 26 near the Nepal China border after a glacier collapse triggered a powerful torrent that swept through mountain valleys, villages, roads, bridges and power facilities. Rasuwa district and areas along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems have been among the worst affected.
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 4,451 people have been rescued so far. The figure includes 191 people rescued from hydropower tunnels and 517 people evacuated by air. More than 100 people are also believed to be trapped in a mud filled tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district.
Weather conditions have made the rescue operation more difficult. Rain and fog forced authorities to temporarily suspend search and rescue operations on Saturday. Teams remain ready to continue the search when conditions allow.
The disaster has had a major impact on Nepal's hydropower sector. The disaster authority said 933 people connected with hydropower projects are among those reported missing.
Nepal has asked for specialised international technical assistance while rescue and relief operations continue. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the country needs technical support for rescuing people trapped in tunnels, restoring transport and communication links, identifying bodies, conducting DNA testing and preserving bodies for longer periods.
Nepal has said it does not currently need additional general search and rescue teams, but wants specialised assistance in areas where it lacks sufficient technical expertise and equipment.
India has provided relief assistance to Nepal and offered further technical support for rescue and recovery operations. India has also sent relief materials, including medicines, food, blankets and water purification supplies.
The disaster has also affected a large number of Indian nationals and people of Indian origin. India's Ministry of External Affairs said 320 Indian nationals remained uncontactable, while more than 100 people of Indian origin holding other nationalities were also reported missing.
The disaster has particular significance for Kerala, where authorities are continuing efforts to trace people from the state who were in Nepal when the floods struck.
NORKA Roots said 60 people from Kerala had been confirmed safe from an initial list of 82 people whose whereabouts were being sought. Fourteen names on the original list were found to belong to people from other Indian states, and their details were passed to the Ministry of External Affairs and the respective state governments.
Eight people from Kerala remain untraced. Four of them are Australian citizens, and their details have been shared with the Ministry of External Affairs.
Among those still untraced is a family of four from Ponnani in Malappuram district who are Australian citizens. Sreedharan Iyer, 54, his wife Lakshmi Sreedharan Iyer, 49, and their children Rishab Sreedharan Iyer, 23, and Rudra Sreedharan Iyer, 20, had travelled to the region on a Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
The family had last contacted relatives from Rasuwa, one of the areas severely affected by the floods. Their current whereabouts have not been officially confirmed.
A separate 23 member Indian pilgrimage group, including 19 people from Kerala, was continuing its journey from Darchen in Tibet towards Kathmandu. Authorities were monitoring the group's movement as it travelled through the Kodari Nyalam border crossing.
Australia has also been working to establish the whereabouts of its citizens reported missing after the disaster. The Australian government has sent additional consular personnel to Nepal and announced assistance for communities affected by the floods.
The disaster has also caused severe damage on the Chinese side of the border. China has reported seven deaths and more than 500 people missing in Tibet. Rescue teams have been working around the badly damaged Gyirong border crossing, where roads and other infrastructure were destroyed by the flood.
The threat has not ended. Authorities are monitoring two lakes upstream of the affected region because of concerns about further flooding. One lake has shown signs of shrinking, but officials have warned that unstable water bodies in the Himalayan region could continue to pose a risk.
The floods have destroyed or damaged homes, roads, bridges, power facilities and communication links. Nepal's initial estimate is that rebuilding could cost between four billion and five billion dollars, although the full scale of the damage is still being assessed.
For families waiting for news of missing relatives, the search for survivors remains the main concern. Rescue and relief operations are continuing where weather and ground conditions allow, while authorities work to restore access to some of the worst affected areas.