The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 177, while 826 people remain unaccounted for, according to the latest information released by Nepalese authorities on Thursday.
The flash floods struck the Bhotekoshi River region in Rasuwa district near the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday morning. A massive surge of water and debris swept downstream, washing away bridges, vehicles and other infrastructure along the river.
The flood was triggered by an ice-and-rock avalanche linked to a glacier collapse in the Himalayan region, according to reports citing the United States Geological Survey. The USGS ruled out an earthquake as the cause of the disaster.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 826 people are still missing. The missing include security personnel and tourists, with a significant number of foreign nationals among those unaccounted for.
Indian nationals constitute the largest group among the missing foreign tourists. Many Indians had travelled to Nepal as part of journeys towards Mount Kailash and Mansarovar in Tibet.
Rescue operations have been intensified in the affected areas, with security personnel and emergency teams searching along the river corridors for survivors and missing people. Helicopters are also being used to rescue stranded people and transport emergency supplies.
The sudden flood caused extensive destruction in the mountainous region, sweeping away vehicles and damaging bridges and other infrastructure. Authorities are continuing efforts to recover bodies, identify victims and establish the whereabouts of those still missing.
The disaster is being described as one of the most severe natural calamities to hit the region in recent years, with rescue and relief operations continuing amid challenging terrain and conditions.
