Authorities in Nepal have issued warnings of potential new flooding and advised residents in flood-affected areas to stay vigilant as water levels in the Bhotekoshi River have risen. Flood alerts were sent to people’s mobile phones early Sunday, while rescue teams were clearing a key highway linking Kathmandu to a severely affected region by the devastating floods last Wednesday, which claimed the lives of at least 800 individuals and left over 3,000 missing in both Nepal and Tibet.
The recent alerts followed a notification from Chinese authorities to their Nepalese counterparts regarding increased water flow upstream. According to Dharam Raj Uprety, head of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources reported that a newly formed lake post-floods had mostly emptied. However, they cautioned about a crater 5.6 kilometers upstream still holding around 1.4 million cubic meters of water, necessitating continuous monitoring.
As of Sunday, Nepal’s disaster agency reported the death toll had reached 788 with 2,502 individuals missing, whereas Chinese authorities stated 16 deaths and 546 missing persons on their side of the border. Among the missing were numerous individuals from various countries who were in the region for work, tourism, or pilgrimage. Notably, 261 foreigners, including over 100 Nepalis and other international visitors, were reported missing in Tibet.
In a positive development, a Canadian previously reported missing was found safe, as confirmed by Canada’s foreign affairs minister, Anita Anand. However, 31 Canadians remain unaccounted for, with the figure subject to change as more information emerges. Concerned families in Canada, like Seema Rawla’s, are seeking government assistance and resources to aid in the search and rescue efforts in Nepal.
Rescue operations are ongoing at several hydroelectric projects, particularly at the Upper Trishuli complex, where there are indications of potential entrapment of around 350 individuals in a tunnel. Over 10,000 Nepali troops are participating in the rescue missions alongside specialists from China and India, as per Uprety. Meanwhile, residents in heavily impacted regions are returning to their damaged homes, salvaging belongings, and assessing the aftermath of the calamitous flooding.