The death toll from the catastrophic flooding that struck the Nepal-China border region on Wednesday has climbed to at least 734, with authorities confirming that more than 3,000 individuals remain missing. The disaster, initiated by a massive glacier collapse high in the Himalayas, has buried villages and left a trail of destruction that extends into neighboring India, where some victims’ bodies have been recovered.
Rescue operations are currently focused on locating over 900 workers trapped at hydropower project sites in central Nepal. As of Sunday morning, the Independent Power Producers’ Association reported that 933 people remain unaccounted for across 11 different hydropower sites and tunnels, primarily within the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. These workers include citizens from Nepal, India, South Korea, and China.
Conditions at these sites are dire. At the 216-megawatt Upper Trishuli-1 project, Nepali soldiers have been documented wading through deep mud to reach trapped workers, successfully rescuing 254 individuals. However, progress is severely hindered elsewhere. Baburaj Maharjan, executive director of the Chilime Hydropower Company, noted that rescue efforts at the 22MW Chilime project—located 133 km north of the capital—have been stalled because the tunnel is completely filled with mud, making entry impossible.
To accelerate the search, the government has deployed a joint task force of 82 personnel, including 62 from the Nepali Army and 20 from the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, specifically to clear debris from tunnel entrances. Overall, Nepal has mobilized 19,000 security personnel and 16 helicopters for the mission. India has also contributed to the response, dispatching an 11-member team of medical and tunnel-rescue specialists who arrived on Saturday to conduct aerial assessments.
The situation remains volatile due to the formation of a barrier lake created by debris buildup. On Friday, rising water levels prompted a temporary suspension of search activities due to fears of a secondary flood. While authorities indicate the immediate risk has decreased, they continue to monitor the area near the port of Gyirong using satellites, radars, and drones. Officials have stated they are confident they can provide a 30-minute warning to rescue teams if the lake’s condition deteriorates.
The scale of the humanitarian crisis has overwhelmed local infrastructure. Nepal’s foreign minister confirmed that the country is struggling to store and identify the rising number of recovered bodies. Unidentified victims are being distributed across 21 hospitals in various districts for preservation. In China’s Tibet region, authorities reported 16 deaths in Gyirong County as of Saturday evening, alongside 261 missing foreign nationals from 23 countries, including 104 Nepalis and 49 Indians.
International support has begun to arrive as the search continues. China has allocated at least 220 million yuan ($32.7m) and deployed 2,100 rescue workers to the region. The United States and Canada have each pledged $3.6m in humanitarian aid, while the United Kingdom has offered $6.8m. Additionally, the United Nations released $2.5m in emergency funding, the European Union committed $2.3m, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched a $31m appeal, having already allocated $1m.
Nepal initially declined external assistance to avoid the logistical chaos that often accompanies large-scale international deployments, but the urgency of the situation has since shifted priorities. Thousands of people, including foreign nationals, have been evacuated from the disaster zone as search teams continue to navigate destroyed roads and bridges to reach the most isolated areas. The report also notes that rescue operations resumed after the lake threat was deemed manageable. The report also notes that katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing, said that Chinese authorities say the risk seems to have been reduced, but it has not disappeared. The report also notes that radars, and drones,” she said, adding that “authorities are confident that if the situation around the barrier lake should deteriorate, they will be able to give notice of about 30 minutes to rescuers below”, they are closely monitoring using satellites. The report also notes that however, with adverse weather conditions persisting in the area, the rescue efforts have become quite challenging,” the statement added. The report also notes that the army has rescued 254 workers there.
Source: Al Jazeera
