Nepal is facing one of its worst natural disasters in recent years after devastating flash floods and landslides killed at least 165 people. Hundreds of others remain missing, including a large number of Indian tourists.
Rescue teams continued their operations on Thursday in areas close to the Nepal-Tibet border. They searched through thick mud, debris and sludge for survivors and missing people. Floodwaters also buried the lower floors of several multi-storey buildings, making rescue operations difficult.
Hundreds Still Missing
Nepal's disaster management authorities said 823 people remained out of contact following the floods. The figure includes both local residents and foreign nationals.
Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said nearly 300 Indian tourists were missing after the disaster. Authorities also reported that missing foreign nationals included 133 Indians, as well as citizens of Australia, Britain, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea and the United States. The death toll has continued to rise as rescue workers reach areas that remained cut off by floodwaters and landslides.
Glacial Collapse Behind Disaster
The United States Geological Survey said the disaster was linked to a glacial collapse rather than the earthquake that was initially suspected. The agency said seismic activity was first believed to have been caused by an earthquake. However, further assessment indicated that it was "instead a glacial collapse and debris flow" that "caused subsequent catastrophic impacts downstream".
The event triggered severe flooding and debris flows across parts of Nepal and Tibet.
Initial reports had suggested that an earthquake may have triggered an avalanche, which then caused the destructive flooding. Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal had also referred to this possibility, according to local media reports.
India Sends Emergency Aid
India has responded to the disaster by sending humanitarian assistance to Nepal. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India had dispatched 10 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), along with essential medicines. The assistance is aimed at supporting Nepal's emergency response and relief operations.
India has also been closely monitoring the situation because of the large number of Indian nationals affected by the disaster.
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh on High Alert
The floods also prompted authorities in India to take precautionary measures in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Both states were placed on high alert on Wednesday after floodwaters from Nepal caused damage in several districts along the Gandak river basin. Authorities began preparations in vulnerable areas and started moving people away from locations that could face rising water levels.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to review the situation. They discussed the possibility of rising water levels in rivers because of the flooding in Nepal.
"The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been placed on high alert along with the local administrations and relief-rescue teams in the border areas where its impact may be felt," Shah said.
US Announces Emergency Assistance
The United States has also expressed support for Nepal following the deadly disaster. The US government offered condolences to those affected and announced $500,000 in emergency assistance, according to the State Department.
Meanwhile, rescue teams in Nepal remain focused on finding survivors and locating those still missing. The scale of the destruction and difficult terrain continue to pose major challenges to the ongoing rescue and relief efforts.