Hundreds remain missing after a glacial avalanche triggered devastating floods across Nepal

Flash floods triggered by a glacial avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border have caused severe destruction, leaving over 160 people dead and nearly 1,500 missing, including 177 Indian nationals. The disaster began on August 26 when a powerful landslide, generating seismic signals equivalent to a 5.2-magnitude earthquake, sent a massive volume of ice, rock, mud, and water into the Lhende Khola river. This debris created an unstable natural dam that quickly burst, sending a deadly surge of water into Nepal's Bhote Koshi River basin. The floodwaters swept through settlements, hydropower plants, and vital pilgrim routes. In Tibet's Gyirong county, authorities reported at least three deaths and 558 people missing.

Indian Pilgrims among the Missing

Among those unaccounted for in Nepal are numerous foreign tourists and pilgrims. The Nepalese Tourism Ministry confirmed that at least 133 Indian pilgrims participating in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are missing. Communication lines in the hardest-hit areas have been severed, complicating efforts to locate survivors. Indian missions and state governments have established helplines for families seeking information.

Infrastructure Washed Away

The sheer force of the water destroyed critical infrastructure across central Nepal. At least 19 motorable bridges were washed away, and a major 42-kilometer road connecting Nuwakot with the Rasuwagadhi border crossing was completely destroyed. Nepal's hydropower sector also suffered heavy losses, with eight operational projects and five under construction damaged by the deluge. Rescue teams are struggling to access the affected regions due to the extensive damage to roads and bridges.

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