Floods in Nepal: 95 Dead, Hundreds Missing Including 105 Indian Pilgrims

Kathmandu / New Delhi : Massive flash floods triggered by a sudden landslide near the Tibet border devastated central and northern Nepal on Wednesday, leaving at least 95 people dead and nearly 500 missing. The catastrophic deluge inundated entire settlements, destroyed critical infrastructure, swept away key transport arteries, and damaged over a dozen hydroelectric power projects across the Himalayan nation.

According to preliminary satellite analysis and reports from Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the disaster originated about 20 kilometers northeast of the Tibet-Rasuwa border. Unstable mountain rocks collapsed, blocking rivers and releasing a colossal surge of mud and water down the Lendhe, Bhote Koshi, and Trishuli river basins.

The surge slammed into the Rasuwa and Dhading districts before spreading downstream to Nuwakot, Chitwan, and Gorkha. A 42-kilometer stretch of highway connecting Rasuwa with Nuwakot was washed away alongside major concrete bridges, severely disrupting Nepal’s key overland trade corridor with China.

High Human Toll and Stranded Pilgrims
The tragedy has impacted local residents, security personnel, and international travelers. Among the roughly 500 missing individuals are at least 105 Indian nationals and 37 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), many of whom were en route to the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage via the Rasuwa border.

Nepal Police spokespersons confirmed that 28 police officers and 44 Nepalese Army personnel are among those missing, after local police posts and border check posts in Timure and Rasuwa were overwhelmed by the floodwaters.

In total, the Nepal Tourism Board reported hundreds of stranded or missing tourists from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Australia, South Africa, and the Netherlands.

Emergency Relief and Border Alert
In response to the swelling river levels in the Kosi and Narayani basins, India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) placed all units along the 1,751-kilometer India-Nepal border on high alert. The SSB deployed 18 disaster relief teams across vulnerable border districts in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand along the Ghaghara, Karnali, and Mahakali river systems, keeping additional units on standby.

In Nepal, Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened an emergency cabinet meeting to streamline operations. The Nepalese military deployed 12 helicopters, including Mi-17 heavy-lift aircraft equipped with specialized medical rescue teams, alongside search drones and trained canine units. Over 80 stranded survivors have been airlifted so far, and emergency field medical hubs have been established in Trishuli.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu launched emergency hotlines and remains in direct coordination with Nepalese authorities to expedite the location and evacuation of affected Indian citizens.

With water levels in temporary upstream landslide dams remaining unstable, officials have urged residents along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli banks to stay on high alert, as relief forces struggle through thick debris to reach isolated mountain villages.