Nepal Floods: Nearly 180 Dead, Over 1,400 Missing After Glacial Lake Burst
Samik Kharel
At least 180 people have died and over 1,400 remain missing in Nepal after flash floods, likely caused by a glacial lake outburst in Tibet, devastated communities along the Trishuli River. Officials warn the toll may rise as rescue operations continue and communications are restored. Prime Minister Balen Shah has called for national unity, while India has pledged aid.
A massive flash flood, believed to have originated from a glacial lake outburst in the upper reaches of Tibet (China), has devastated parts of Nepal, leaving nearly 180 people dead and more than 1,400 missing. The surging waters swept away entire settlements, hydropower plants, and bridges along the Trishuli River, causing severe damage across several districts.
Witness Gyan Deep Sapkota, an 11th-grade student at Trishuli High School in Nuwakot district, recounted the terrifying moment the flood struck on Wednesday morning (local time). “Teachers shouted for us to leave. Some ran across the old bridge to safety, while most of us ran up the hill. Many friends panicked and fainted. I still shudder,” Sapkota told Al Jazeera.
The flood originated from a glacial lake believed to have burst upstream in Tibet, sending a massive wall of water down the Bhotekoshi River, which joins the Trishuli River in Nepal. The torrent wiped out everything in its path, including dams, hydropower plants, bridges, and residential areas.
Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle said that as of Wednesday evening, rescue teams had recovered 95 bodies. However, both the death toll and the number of missing are expected to rise significantly as water recedes and communication with the hardest-hit regions is restored. Major Rajendra Prasad Dhamala, overseeing search operations in Bagmati Province, said most bodies were found downstream.
Many of the missing are Indian pilgrims traveling to Tibet for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a significant pilgrimage for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. Other missing victims include police officers, government staff, hydropower engineers, and hundreds of foreign tourists in Nepal.
“Everything Was Swept Away”
Rajendra Poudel, a health worker in the town of Betrawati, Nuwakot, described the scene as apocalyptic. “Until early this morning, this area was beautiful. There were houses, gardens, and a hydropower plant. Everything has been washed away. Nothing is left here. It’s heartbreaking; I’m speechless,” Poudel shared.
Another resident, Lal Bahadur Rai, said the floodwaters rose to within just 10 meters of his home. “Many houses and a school on the other bank were swept away. My house miraculously remained standing. Solar power stations and a large coffee plantation were also wiped out,” Rai recounted.
According to a statement from the Nepalese Prime Minister's Office, the flood destroyed 19 road bridges and 43 kilometers of highways connecting the country's lower regions to affected areas. The districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, and Chitwan have been placed on high alert, with residents advised to stay away from rivers.
Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah called for “national unity” in the face of the crisis, urging local groups, businesses, and volunteers across the country to support relief and search efforts. “The search for the missing will be further intensified,” Shah wrote on social media. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Shah by phone, pledging humanitarian assistance.
Families Desperately Search for Loved Ones
Rajan Nepali has visited several hospitals in the capital Kathmandu – where some survivors were airlifted by helicopter – to find his brother-in-law. “My brother-in-law was guiding tourists in Rasuwa district. We were in contact with him until 8 a.m. Then his phone went dead. We don’t know where to go or what to do,” Nepali said tearfully at the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu.
Sharmila Bhandari said her husband, Janak Raj Bohora – a construction engineer who had worked on the Upper Trishuli hydropower project for four years – has been missing since the flood struck. “I spoke with him at 6 a.m. Wednesday, but lost contact after he left for work. I have had no information about him since,” she said.
Dipesh Dhakal, a colleague of Bohora, is also missing. Bishnu Adhikari, a friend of Dhakal, said many team members managed to flee after sirens sounded, but it is unclear whether Dhakal escaped. “Right now, phones are unreachable, so we cannot confirm,” Adhikari said.
