Kathmandu: Nepal Police confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the death toll from the devastating floods that struck the country on Wednesday has risen to 270. Bodies are still being recovered from several districts located downstream along the river. The massive flooding, which originated in Tibet, China, caused widespread destruction in Nepal after surging across the border through the Bhote Koshi River.
According to police, the highest number of bodies—108—were recovered from Chitwan district in the southern plains. This was followed by 62 bodies from Nawalparasi East, 27 from Dhading and 17 from Rasuwa.
The Nepal government said the floods caused extensive damage to residential areas, hydropower projects, customs offices and electricity infrastructure. As a result, more than 800 people remain unreachable.
Meanwhile, the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), said several employees working at different hydropower projects are still missing.
Among those missing are 76 employees of Andritz Hydro, which is working on the under-construction 216-MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project. Around half of them are Nepali nationals, while the others are foreign nationals.
Eleven employees of the project developer, Nepal Water and Energy Development Company, are also missing. Eight South Korean nationals working on the project are also on the missing list.
Similarly, 51 people working at the 111-MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project and eight employees working at the powerhouse of the 5-MW Mailung Khola Hydropower Project are missing.
Two employees of Sinohydro, the civil contractor working on the 120-MW Rasuwabhote Koshi Hydropower Project, are also reported missing.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal confirmed that around 300 Indian nationals have reportedly gone missing following the devastating floods in the Himalayan country. Most of them are believed to be pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar.
Speaking at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu, Khanal said thousands of people remain unaccounted for following the disaster in the Rasuwa region. Authorities are assessing the extent of the destruction and continuing efforts to trace those who are missing.
Khanal said that several towns were devastated one after another within just a few hours, leaving thousands of families homeless and many people still unaccounted for. He added that the government is continuing to assess the overall damage caused by the disaster.
The minister said many foreign nationals, including Indians, travel through the affected region on their way to Kailash Mansarovar. He said around 300 Indians have reportedly gone missing and the government is making efforts to establish contact with them.
Khanal further stated that around 500 foreign nationals remain unreachable following the disaster, while rescue and relief teams continue to operate in the flood-affected areas.
The Nepalese government is also coordinating with the embassies of different countries to gather information about the safety and whereabouts of missing foreign nationals.
