Kathmandu, Aug 29: Nepal’s death toll from the devastating flash floods rose to 669 on Saturday, with nearly 2,400 people still missing as rescue operations continued amid renewed rainfall, rising water levels and fears of another surge in the Bhotekoshi River basin.
More than 4,400 people have so far been rescued or evacuated, while at least 320 foreign nationals remain among those reported missing, officials said.
More than 15,000 security personnel have been mobilised for search and rescue operations, with helicopters making repeated sorties to evacuate stranded people and transport relief supplies to affected areas.
“The affected region remains on ‘high alert’,” Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said as authorities closely monitored water levels and the possibility of further flooding.
The disaster is believed to have been triggered by a collapse or avalanche of ice and rock in the Himalayan region near the Nepal-Tibet border, which unleashed a massive torrent of water, mud and debris downstream.
The Bhotekoshi River became a major channel for the floodwaters, devastating towns and villages across several districts. Homes, vehicles, roads and bridges were swept away, while hydropower projects also suffered extensive damage.
Authorities said at least 261 foreign tourists who had earlier gone “out of contact” have been rescued. They included 167 Indians, 40 Chinese nationals, eight Ukrainians, four each from Germany and Malta, and three from the United States, with others from several countries.
However, rescue efforts have been severely hampered by fresh rainfall, damaged infrastructure and difficult terrain. Several badly affected areas can now be reached only by helicopter after roads and bridges were washed away.
Adding to concerns, a new lake formed upstream of the disaster zone following the initial flooding, raising fears of another surge downstream. Although Chinese monitoring indicated that the lake had shrunk from its peak level, Nepali authorities continued to closely monitor the situation.
Nepal’s disaster management authorities had warned of possible further flooding after water levels rose at the site of Wednesday’s disaster. The meteorology department also warned of fresh rainfall and thunderstorms in the affected areas.
On the Chinese side of the border, seven people were reported dead and more than 550 missing, according to Chinese authorities.
An 11-member Indian team assisting Nepal’s response carried out reconnaissance of hydropower tunnels in the flood-hit region before travelling to Trishuli in Nuwakot district to assist in efforts to rescue workers trapped inside a hydropower project.
Nepali security forces have rescued 191 workers and residents from hydropower projects along the affected corridor, although many others remain unaccounted for.
India has dispatched 57.6 tonnes of relief material to flood-ravaged Nepal since Wednesday. Kathmandu has welcomed the assistance, with Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle describing India’s support as “exceptionally generous”.
Wagle said New Delhi had indicated that it would provide generous assistance for reconstruction as Nepal begins assessing the scale of damage to infrastructure and communities.
“The immediate priority was rescuing people stranded or trapped by the floods, followed by recovery and reconstruction,” Wagle said.
There was some relief on the transport front with the Mugling-Kathmandu highway reopening on Saturday after remaining closed since Wednesday due to flooding and landslide risks. Several other roads and highways, however, remain obstructed.
Survivors in Timure near the Nepal-Tibet border recounted scrambling up hillsides as a wall of water, mud and rocks swept through the settlement, with houses disappearing within seconds.
Across the affected region, buildings have been buried under mud, vehicles left half-submerged and electricity poles uprooted, while families continue searching for missing relatives and belongings.
With bad weather, damaged infrastructure and the threat of renewed flooding continuing to hamper operations, rescue teams are racing against time to reach isolated settlements and locate those still missing.
