Kathmandu: The death toll in the catastrophic flash floods that struck the Nepal-Tibet border rose to 392 people, as rescue teams waded through mud in search of more than 1,400 missing individuals. Experts have warned of the risk of further floods following the devastating tsunami-like wall of freezing water and mud that swept away towns under a torrent of sludge. According to France24.com, rescue teams have been working tirelessly to locate over 1,400 people missing after the flash floods and landslides ravaged the Nepal-Tibet border. The calamity has left entire villages engulfed by mud, smashed infrastructure, and swept vehicles away. The missing include foreign tourists, trekkers, and Hindu pilgrims visiting Tibet's sacred Mount Kailash. The US Geological Survey (USGS) attributed the disaster to a glacial collapse that unleashed a massive flow of icy debris. Climate change, which causes glaciers to melt globally, is increasing the risk of such occurrences. Emergency teams, including Nepali soldiers with sniffer dogs, are racing against time to rescue survivors and recover bodies from the affected areas. Nepali police reported the recovery of 389 bodies, with 910 individuals, including 517 foreign tourists, still out of contact. Beijing reported an additional 100 Chinese citizens missing in Nepal. State media in China confirmed the "mudslide disaster" at Gyirong Port in Tibet, resulting in three deaths and 558 people, including 260 foreigners, missing. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the disaster zone to oversee relief efforts, and the region remains largely inaccessible to foreign journalists. The Chinese government has mobilized nearly 800 emergency workers, along with sniffer dogs and speed boats, to aid the rescue operations. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has urged for national unity and immediate relief for displaced families. The Nepali tourism board has reported other missing foreigners from countries such as Australia, Britain, and South Korea. The disaster, described as 'like an inland tsunami," t raveled 170 kilometers into Nepal, according to environmental historian Ruth Gamble. The USGS clarified that the event, initially reported as an earthquake, was a "glacial collapse and debris flow." Fears of more floods persist, with debris blocking water flow and creating a growing lake, prompting authorities to issue warnings. Scores of Hindu devotees are among the missing, and Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru expressed grief over the devastating event. The ongoing relief efforts continue as promises of aid trickle in, aiming to alleviate the impact of this catastrophic natural disaster.
