Kathmandu, Nepal: The death toll from devastating flash floods in central Nepal has risen to 579, authorities announced Friday. Search and rescue operations are continuing at full pace after a brief pause due to concerns over rising water levels in the Bhotekoshi River area, which had raised fears of further flooding.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) warned of an increased risk of secondary flooding due to mud-laden water accumulating at the site of the initial flash flood that struck on Wednesday. The NDRRMA urged personnel involved in rescue efforts and residents in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river basins to remain vigilant and relocate to safer areas if any immediate danger arises.
The recent flash floods, which swept through Rasuwa and other central districts on Wednesday, have caused widespread destruction to settlements, roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure, in addition to claiming numerous lives.
Nepal Police confirmed on Friday that 579 bodies had been recovered across eight affected districts, with thousands of individuals still unaccounted for. The highest number of fatalities were reported in Chitwan district, with 233 bodies recovered, followed by Nawalparasi East (154), Gorkha (46), and Dhading (40). Nuwakot reported 37 recovered bodies, Tanahu 30, Nawalparasi West 27, and Rasuwa 12.
Separately, Chinese authorities reported that five individuals lost their lives in Gyirong County within the Tibet Autonomous Region, an area adjacent to the affected Nepalese districts.
Since Wednesday morning, at least 1,924 people have been reported missing. This figure includes 86 security personnel, 517 foreign tourists, and 127 Nepali travellers. Rescue efforts have so far aided 1,545 injured and stranded individuals, with 84 currently receiving medical treatment in Kathmandu hospitals. In total, 4,451 people have been rescued from various affected regions, including 129 foreign nationals, among them 85 Indian citizens. Additionally, 191 individuals trapped in tunnels of various hydropower projects have been brought to safety. A total of 101 injured individuals are undergoing treatment in Kathmandu.
The extensive search and rescue operations, now in their third day, involve 7,451 security personnel, including 2,391 from the Nepal Army. Helicopters are being utilized to access remote areas and evacuate survivors, while ground teams are meticulously searching riverbanks and downstream settlements, according to reports from The Kathmandu Post.
Many hospitals in the affected areas are experiencing shortages of space in their morgues as more bodies, swept downstream by the floods, continue to be recovered. Recovered bodies from districts like Rasuwa and Nuwakot have been found as far south as Chitwan, Tanahun, Nawalparasi, and Gorkha.
In response to the natural disaster, the Nepalese government has decided to postpone all examinations scheduled from August 29. Prime Minister Balendra Shah and his cabinet have pledged to donate one month’s salary to the disaster relief fund. The cabinet has also instructed the finance ministry to formulate a comprehensive relief, concessional financing, and rehabilitation package for those affected by the floods.
Nepal has clarified its position on international assistance, stating that while aid is not being refused, the immediate priority is the maximum deployment of its own security forces, who possess intimate knowledge of the local terrain and environmental conditions. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal emphasized that the rescue strategy is being formulated based on national capacity, immediate needs, and Nepal’s unique geographical context.
Meanwhile, China’s emergency response system sounded a Level-IV alert late Thursday, indicating the formation of a significant barrier lake near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers in Nepal. Chinese authorities informed Nepal that approximately 2 million cubic meters of water have accumulated in the lake, with an additional 3 million cubic meters potentially flowing in over the next three days, raising concerns about a potential breach. These rivers originate in Tibet and contribute to the Bhotekoshi river system in Nepal.
The Chenab Times News Desk