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Floodwaters and debris cover Nepal’s Trishuli River area after a Himalayan ice-rock avalanche triggered a deadly flash flood (Img: Pinterest)
Kathmandu: Nepal is battling one of its deadliest recent natural disasters after devastating flash floods killed at least 162 people and left hundreds of others missing, including Indian nationals and security personnel.
The disaster was reportedly triggered by an ice-and-rock avalanche near the Nepal-China border, which blocked the flow of the Lhende River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi. The sudden obstruction and subsequent release sent a massive torrent of water, rocks and debris downstream.
According to reports, water levels in the affected area rose by as much as 9 metres within just half an hour, leaving residents with little time to react.
The flood first struck Timure, near Nepal's border with Tibet, washing away large parts of the settlement before the floodwaters moved downstream towards the Trishuli River.
What made the disaster particularly dangerous was the absence of significant local rainfall. With no obvious warning from heavy rain, many residents were caught off guard as the torrent suddenly swept through the area.
The disaster has also raised serious concerns over the safety of foreign nationals travelling through the region.
Officials said at least 300 Indians and 37 NRIs were among those reported missing. Around 50 of the missing Indians were reportedly pilgrims travelling for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.
Around 500 foreign nationals have reportedly been out of contact, prompting authorities to coordinate with foreign embassies to establish their whereabouts.
The floods have also affected Nepal's security forces. At least 81 security personnel remain unaccounted for, including 44 Nepal Army personnel, 28 Nepal Police personnel and nine members of the Armed Police Force.
Floods and landslides have disrupted road connectivity across several districts. Roads have been buried under mud and debris, while traffic has been suspended in areas where conditions remain dangerous.
Nepal's mountainous geography makes it particularly vulnerable to cascading natural disasters. The country lies along the tectonic boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates, where the two plates continue to converge.
Earthquakes, landslides, avalanches and river blockages can combine to create sudden and destructive events. The 2015 Gorkha earthquake, for example, triggered thousands of landslides and avalanches across the Himalayan nation.
In the latest disaster, the combination of an ice-rock avalanche, blocked river flow and sudden release of water and debris appears to have created a deadly chain reaction.
As rescue operations continue, authorities are searching for missing people and assessing the full scale of the destruction across the affected regions.
