5 days ago
Nepal Flash Flood Leaves Communities Destroyed, Survivors Searching
A very large flood struck parts of Nepal near the Tibet border.
Fast-moving water, mud and landslides destroyed homes, bridges and marketplaces.
People ran uphill or into forests to escape.
Some survivors spent the night outside and received noodles from a helicopter.
Nepal Army helicopters later carried many people to safer places.
Rescue workers found hundreds of bodies, but many people were still missing.
Families gathered at hospitals and shelters to look for relatives.
Survivors now need safety, medical care and new homes while the damaged communities are rebuilt.
A catastrophic Bhote Koshi flash flood and landslides devastated Timure, Rasuwagadhi and downstream settlements in Nepal.
Survivors described homes, bridges and markets being swept away by black mud and powerful floodwaters.
Nepal Army helicopters rescued stranded people and delivered food to survivors sheltering in forests.
Hundreds of bodies had reportedly been recovered, while hundreds or nearly 1,000 people remained missing in preliminary accounts.
Search teams continued operations across Rasuwa, Dhading, Nuwakot and Chitwan as families sought missing relatives.
- Who
- Residents, customs agents, workers and families in affected areas, along with Nepal Army and other rescue teams.
- What
- A catastrophic flash flood and landslides caused widespread destruction, deaths and disappearances.
- Where
- The Nepal-Tibet border area, including Timure and Rasuwagadhi in Rasuwa, with impacts downstream in Dhading, Nuwakot and Chitwan.
- When
- The disaster began on Wednesday morning; rescue and search operations continued through Thursday and afterward.
- Why
- The flood originated in the Tibet region and surged into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, according to a rescue team member.
Key facts
- Main event
- Bhote Koshi flash flood and landslides
- Worst-affected area
- Timure and Rasuwagadhi in Nepal’s Rasuwa district
- Rescue effort
- Nepal Army helicopters evacuated survivors and dropped food packets
- Casualties
- Hundreds of bodies had reportedly been recovered by Thursday night
- Missing people
- Preliminary accounts ranged from hundreds to nearly 1,000 missing; thousands were also reported missing, including nationals of more than 30 countries
- Indian nationals missing
- Nepalese and Indian authorities reported 288 Indian nationals among those unaccounted for
- Affected districts
- Rasuwa, Dhading, Nuwakot and Chitwan
Quotes
Unnamed survivor from Rasuwa
A flood survivor from Rasuwa whose parents were missing
“From the forest above, I could see bodies scattered and floating in the floodwaters. Before my eyes, beautiful Timure was reduced to ruins. The houses and settlements were swept away. Now there is nothing but a vast expanse of sand and mud.”
deccanchronicle.com
“From the forest, when I looked down at Timure, I never imagined I would get a second chance at life like this. Now everything feels like a terrible dream.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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