Kathmandu, Aug 28: The death toll from the devastating floods in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi region has risen sharply to 579, while 1,924 people remain missing or out of contact, according to the latest update from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Friday evening.
The disaster, believed to have been triggered by an avalanche on a transboundary river between Nepal and China upstream of the Bhote Koshi River, has caused widespread destruction downstream, sweeping away settlements, roads, bridges, hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure.
The latest figure marks a significant increase from the earlier NDRRMA update, which reported 469 deaths and 977 people out of contact on Friday.
Search and rescue operations are continuing across the affected districts, with thousands of security personnel deployed to locate missing people, evacuate those stranded and deliver relief supplies.
The NDRRMA said 13,295 security personnel from the Nepal Police, Nepal Army and Armed Police Force have been mobilised for search, rescue and relief operations. Rescue teams have so far evacuated 3,253 people, while helicopters are being used to rescue stranded residents and transport relief materials to affected areas.
The disaster has also affected a large number of foreign nationals. In its previous update, the NDRRMA had said 517 of the 977 people out of contact were foreign nationals. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had reported that 290 Indians remained out of contact following the floods. The United States said approximately 90 Americans may have been affected, while China reported that nearly 100 Chinese nationals remained missing on the Nepali side following Wednesday’s mudslide.
The floods have also disrupted major routes linking Nepal and China, forcing authorities to facilitate the return of foreign pilgrims through alternative border points.
The Department of Immigration has waived the US$50-per-person-per-week trekking fee for one week for foreign nationals returning from the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through the western Hilsa border point in Humla district.
The waiver, effective from August 27, applies to foreign pilgrims who had earlier obtained departure permits from the Immigration Office in Rasuwa. Authorities said the decision was taken in view of the adverse situation and the need to give priority to humanitarian safety.
Foreign nationals and trekking guides using the Hilsa route will also not be required to obtain insurance, while the mandatory requirement for pilgrims to be accompanied by a trekking guide has been temporarily waived.
The measures are intended to facilitate the safe return of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims through alternative routes after the Bhote Koshi floods damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure along the Rasuwa-Timure route to the Nepal-China border.
According to the Immigration Department, 93 people had received departure permits from its Rasuwa office as of August 26, including 32 Indian nationals.
The Rasuwagadhi route had emerged as a key pilgrimage route to Kailash Mansarovar before the disaster, but continued operation has become difficult after the floods severely damaged infrastructure along the route.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Prime Minister’s Office has urged individuals and organisations seeking to provide relief or assist rescue operations to coordinate with the respective District Administration Offices before travelling to affected areas.
The PMO said uncoordinated movement of private vehicles carrying small quantities of relief materials had caused severe traffic congestion, hampering the movement of ambulances as well as government rescue and relief vehicles.
“The concerned Chief District Officer’s office will make integrated arrangements to deliver the materials directly to the affected locations based on regional needs and priorities,” the PMO said.
With the death toll now at 579 and 1,924 people still missing or out of contact, authorities continue to focus on search and rescue operations, evacuation and restoring access to communities cut off by the floods.
