At least 31 people have been confirmed dead while hundreds remain missing after catastrophic flash floods swept through several districts in Nepal. The floods destroyed homes, roads and power infrastructure.
According to Nepal News, citing the Bagmati Province Police Office, the death toll had risen to 31 by Wednesday evening. Rescue teams continued searching communities affected along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors.
384 travellers listed missing
The Nepal Tourism Board separately said 384 travellers had been listed as missing following the disaster in Rasuwa.
The preliminary list includes 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali citizens.
Among the missing foreigners are 105 Indians. Travellers from Australia, the Netherlands, the United States, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and South Africa are also among those yet to be accounted for.
Authorities stressed that the list remains preliminary and is still being verified with travel agencies, guides, local officials and security agencies.
93 injured, dozens rescued
Police figures also showed that at least 93 people were injured in the floods.
Joint rescue teams involving the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have rescued dozens of people from devastated settlements and riverbanks. Emergency operations continue in the region.
The flooding affected several districts, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan.
Homes, bridges and power projects destroyed
Videos and images from the affected areas showed buildings being overwhelmed by powerful floodwaters. Vehicles were swept away and bridges collapsed as well.
The disaster also damaged hydropower facilities, with hundreds of megawatts of electricity generation reportedly affected.
Reuters reported that entire settlements near the river were swept away. This occurred as the wall of water, mud and debris moved downstream.
Possible avalanche trigger investigated
The exact cause of the disaster has not yet been conclusively established.
Initial assessments suggest that an earthquake in the region may have triggered an ice-and-rock avalanche. This could have blocked a river before suddenly releasing a massive surge of water.
Experts have also warned that an upstream blockage remains in place, raising fears of another possible flood.
Authorities have therefore urged residents living near the Bhote Koshi and other affected rivers to move to safer ground.
International rescue support grows
Nepal has sought assistance as rescue efforts intensify in difficult mountainous terrain.
India and China have both offered support. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities deployed hundreds of rescuers near the border area affected by the disaster.
Search operations have been complicated by damaged roads, deep sediment and high water levels. These factors have made some communities difficult to reach.
With hundreds of people still unaccounted for, authorities have warned that the casualty figures could change. This could happen as rescue and recovery operations continue.
