New Delhi: A massive deluge originating from Tibet has wreaked havoc in Nepal, leaving the situation dire with no immediate hope of relief. According to the latest reports, 332 people have lost their lives so far. Administrative teams are actively engaged in relief and rescue operations. Search operations are ongoing for the 1,500 people who remain missing.
Media reports from Kathmandu indicate that foreign nationals are among the deceased and missing. This is being considered one of the worst disasters to hit Nepal in recent years. The surge of water and debris in the river was so powerful that several projects sustained severe damage; restaurants, bridges, and houses were also devastated. The Government of India has extended a helping hand to assist with the disaster in Nepal.
Crowds outside hospitals searching for loved ones
The deluge in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River has caused widespread destruction, with a large number of people reported missing. Crowds have gathered outside hospitals in search of their loved ones. “If you find a person by this name in any hospital, please let us know. I will show you his photograph; please help us find him.” A relative of a missing person made this emotional appeal in a state of distress outside the National Trauma Centre in Kathmandu.
A video by PTI captured a heart-wrenching scene at Bharatpur Hospital in Chitwan, where families were tirelessly searching for their relatives. Thakur Prasad Kandel and Leelawati Sapkota were among those at the hospital looking for their brothers, who have been missing since Wednesday morning.
Unable to establish contact
The Government of Nepal has issued emergency numbers to deal with the crisis. According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, hundreds of people gathered at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, searching for relatives with whom no contact has been established so far. A day earlier, on Wednesday, floods wreaked havoc in Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal, causing floodwaters to surge rapidly towards low-lying areas near the Trishuli and Narayani rivers.
Lives of 21 People from Tamil Nadu Saved
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, stated that India is acting upon all requests received from Nepal. He further mentioned that India has dispatched 47.5 tonnes of emergency relief material to Nepal via two Indian aircraft, and the provision of additional relief supplies is also being considered.
Jaiswal noted that 21 stranded individuals from Tamil Nadu were rescued. He also mentioned that Indian nationals on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are stranded on the Chinese side; 200 citizens have sought assistance for a safe return, and the embassy is making efforts to bring them back safely.
