Kathmandu, Aug 29: Nepal and China have resumed search and rescue operations in flood-hit Himalayan areas after authorities assessed that the immediate threat from an overflowing lake had reduced, even as the death toll from the disaster approached 600.
The devastating flooding has claimed at least 579 lives in Nepal and five in China’s Tibet region, while thousands of people remain unaccounted for, according to authorities cited in reports.Nepal’s disaster management authorities have put the number of missing people in the country at around 1,924.
In China’s Gyirong County, 558 people were reported missing, including a large number of foreign nationals.The disaster has affected more than 90,000 people, according to the Red Cross, with rescue teams continuing efforts to reach communities cut off by damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure.Rescue operations were temporarily halted after flood debris blocked a waterway and led to the formation of a lake.
The lake later began spilling into the Lhende Khola and Trishuli river systems, prompting authorities to reassess the risk of another sudden surge of water.Chinese rescue personnel and vehicles also withdrew temporarily from the area as a precaution. Operations resumed after officials determined that the immediate danger had eased.
Authorities remain concerned about other barrier lakes in the region. Nepal is monitoring two such lakes upstream and has warned that the flood threat will continue until they drain. Satellite observations have reportedly indicated that one of the lakes is expanding without a clear outlet.Experts have also cautioned that numerous glacial lakes across the Himalayan region could pose additional risks if water levels rise sharply or natural barriers collapse.
The disaster has had consequences beyond Nepal and Tibet. Police in Uttar Pradesh said 10 bodies had been recovered from rivers at three locations after floodwaters travelled downstream from Nepal.A significant number of foreign nationals are also believed to be among those missing.
The affected region is used by pilgrims travelling towards Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, making the situation particularly concerning for Indian travellers.China has intensified monitoring of glacier lakes and landslide-prone areas following the disaster. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the affected Tibetan region, while President Xi Jinping called for stronger disaster monitoring and greater cooperation in responding to such emergencies.
Nepal has meanwhile continued its own rescue efforts, using helicopters to search for survivors and deliver essential supplies to isolated communities.Several countries, including India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have reportedly offered search-and-rescue assistance.
Nepal, however, has indicated that it does not currently require foreign rescue teams.With rescue operations continuing, authorities are focusing on locating missing people, assisting survivors and closely monitoring potentially unstable lakes to prevent further loss of life.
