NUWAKOT, Nepal-UNS: Rescue teams in Nepal and China are racing against time to locate nearly 3,000 people reported missing after catastrophic floods swept through Himalayan communities, leaving hundreds dead and widespread destruction in their wake.
The disaster struck on Wednesday when a massive, tsunami-like surge of water, mud and debris tore through settlements along rivers, destroying homes, infrastructure and livelihoods.
Emergency authorities said at least 586 bodies have been recovered, while some victims were reportedly swept downstream as far as India. The death toll is feared to rise as rescue workers reach remote and badly affected areas.
The number of missing climbed dramatically after Nepal’s disaster management authorities added 933 hydropower workers to the list. Trekkers and pilgrims travelling towards Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash are also among those unaccounted for.
Survivors described scenes of complete devastation, saying entire settlements close to rivers had been washed away. Many families have been waiting for days for information about missing relatives while facing shortages of food, clean drinking water and other essential supplies.
The Red Cross described the psychological and humanitarian impact of the disaster as “enormous”, estimating that as many as 93,000 people may have been affected.
Rescue and relief operations are continuing across the Himalayan region, but damaged roads, destroyed infrastructure and fears of further flooding are complicating efforts to reach survivors.
Authorities remain concerned that the scale of the disaster could become clearer as emergency teams gain access to isolated communities, potentially pushing the number of casualties even higher.
