Hundreds Dead, Others Missing After Avalanche Triggers Flash Floods in Nepal

Hundreds Dead, Others Missing After Avalanche Triggers Flash Floods in Nepal – At least hundred people have died and hundreds are missing after an avalanche of ice and rock triggered severe flash floods in Nepal on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction to villages and infrastructure.

Officials said 384 tourists, including 291 foreigners from countries such as India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Malaysia, were reported missing.

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The Bhotekoshi River reportedly burst its banks at around 9am on Wednesday, August 26, sweeping through communities and damaging roads and hydropower projects.

Nepali government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel said authorities had appealed to neighbouring countries for assistance.

“We have asked both India and China to help us with the rescue efforts,” Pokharel said.

Several multi-storey buildings, trucks and vans were reportedly buried under large quantities of mud in Nuwakot, one of the worst-affected areas.

Authorities warned residents in several districts to stay away from the banks of the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers as rescue operations continued.

Nepal Tourism Board officials said many of those missing were believed to be tourists from India and the Indian diaspora travelling to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus.

South Korean officials also said some of their nationals working on a hydropower project in Nepal were among those reported missing.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said its embassy in Kathmandu had received reports from travel agencies that they had lost contact with 11 Malaysian nationals believed to have been in the flood-hit Rasuwa district.

Rescue and recovery operations are continuing as authorities assess the full extent of the damage and search for survivors.