New Delhi: At least nine people were killed and nine others went missing after massiveflash floods hit Nepal’s Rasuwa district near the Tibet border on
Wednesday, officials said. Nearly 105 Indians are also missing in the flash floods. Around 35 of them were on their way to Mansarovar Lake. Bihar has been put under high alert.
The sudden surge entered the Bhote Koshi river from the Tibetan side at around 9 am and badly affected Timure and Syapru Besi. The flood swept away settlements, vehicles, bridges and infrastructure projects. The full scale of the damage remained unclear, and officials feared that the number of casualties could rise.
Preliminary reports suggest that nearly 1,000 people are feared to have been swept away in the floods.According to preliminary information, around 1,000 people are feared to have been swept away in the floods. However, the numbers have not yet been officially confirmed.
Flood cause unclear
Nepal’s Flood Forecasting Division said heavy rain in Rasuwa did not appear to have caused the flooding. However, satellite images showed significant rainfall on the Tibetan side. Officials were investigating whether a glacial lake outburst flood or another sudden release of water from Tibet triggered the disaster, The Kathmandu Post reported.
Flooding also affected Tibet, where a mudslide caused casualties near the Gyirong border crossing, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported. “There could be heavy casualties or loss of property,” Rasuwa Chief District Officer Narendra Pariyar said.
Infrastructure badly damaged
Timure Bazaar and a nearby customs area suffered extensive damage. Floodwaters swept away vehicles and goods. The newly built Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadhi was also washed away. Three Nepal Police facilities suffered damage. Nine Armed Police Force personnel deployed in Timure were reported missing.
The disaster also damaged roads, bridges and hydropower projects. Nepal’s Energy Ministry said the floods affected about 430 MW of electricity supply. This represents more than 12 per cent of Nepal’s installed hydropower capacity of 3.2 GW, Reuters reported.
Rescue operations disrupted
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah chaired an emergency Cabinet meeting to review the situation. Police, Army and Armed Police Force teams launched search and rescue operations. The Army sent two helicopters to the region, but high water levels prevented them from landing in Syapru Besi and Timure, Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said.
“People along the river are advised to exercise extra caution and remain alert,” Shah said.
The flood moved downstream into the Trishuli basin, prompting warnings in Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan. In India, Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit directed district magistrates along the Gandak and Kosi river systems to remain alert. Nepal Home Minister Sudan Gurung also urged people living near the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers to move to safer places.
