Mud-covered villages and damaged buildings highlight the deadly impact of Nepal’s devastating floods (Img: X)
Kathmandu: Nepal remains in the grip of one of its deadliest flood disasters as rescue agencies continue a race against time to locate thousands of missing people. Authorities have issued a fresh high alert near the Bhotekoshi River after water levels started rising, raising fears of more flash floods in affected areas.
The warning was issued after Chinese authorities informed Nepal about increased water flow upstream. Officials have also flagged a high risk of flash floods in Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts.
According to Nepal’s foreign ministry, more than 800 people have died, while thousands remain missing following devastating floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border. At least 886 people have been rescued so far, with search operations continuing across the affected regions.
Residents received flood alerts on their mobile phones as authorities monitored rising water levels in the Bhotekoshi River. Officials are closely watching river conditions amid fears of sudden flash floods.
The disaster has highlighted challenges in weather monitoring and cross-border data sharing. Nepal’s disaster management authority said many communities received very little warning before floodwaters swept through homes and infrastructure.
Nepal authorities have reported thousands of missing people, including foreign nationals who were present in the Himalayan region for work, travel and pilgrimage.
Rescue teams from Nepal, India, China and South Korea are working to evacuate stranded people and search for those trapped in tunnels and remote areas.
India has stepped up relief efforts after the disaster, sending emergency supplies to Nepal through military flights. The Ministry of External Affairs said 149 Indian nationals have been rescued, while hundreds of others who crossed into Nepal from China are reported safe.
India has also deployed assistance as part of its disaster response efforts for the neighbouring country.
In several worst-hit areas, survivors have returned to find their homes destroyed by floodwaters and mud. Residents in Dhading described scenes of devastation, with houses buried under sludge and belongings washed away.
“Everything is finished. Nothing is left,” one survivor told news agency AP while searching through the remains of a damaged home.
Amid the devastation, stories of courage have emerged. A Nepal teacher and school principal helped save the lives of 1,643 children after receiving a warning about the approaching flood in the Trishuli Valley.
The rescue effort became one of the most remarkable survival stories from the disaster.
Tibetan spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama also offered prayers for those killed, missing and affected by the devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet.
As rescue operations continue, authorities are focusing on finding missing people, providing relief to survivors and preventing further casualties from rising water levels.
