Punjab Newsline | Kathmandu

A devastating flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border has claimed at least 178 lives, with more than 1,400 people still missing, according to the latest official reports. Of the total fatalities, 165 deaths have been reported in Nepal and three in Tibet, while rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid difficult weather conditions and damaged infrastructure.

In Nepal, 826 people remain unaccounted for. Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said that over 300 Indian nationals are among those missing. Meanwhile, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that more than 550 people are still missing in Tibet.

Rescue and relief operations are underway despite blocked roads, landslides, and adverse weather. The Nepal Army successfully evacuated 116 people from Timure in the Rasuwa district on Thursday morning, including 95 Nepali and 21 Indian citizens.

The disaster initially caused confusion after strong tremors were felt near the Nepal-China border at around 8:37 a.m. on Wednesday. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) first identified the event as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake.

However, subsequent investigations revealed that a massive section of a mountain, along with ice and rocks, had collapsed into the Lhende Khola River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River. The Bhotekoshi originates in China before flowing into Nepal.

Scientists believe the collapse was triggered by a major glacier break-off accompanied by a massive landslide. The impact was so powerful that it generated ground vibrations similar to those produced by an earthquake.

USGS later clarified that the tremors were not caused by seismic activity. Instead, they resulted from the enormous landslide, which produced shaking equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake. Experts say the landslide came first, creating earthquake-like tremors rather than being triggered by an actual earthquake.

India Sends 47.5 Tonnes of Relief Aid to Flood-Hit Nepal

Amid the widespread devastation caused by floods in Nepal, India has dispatched a second consignment of humanitarian assistance to support relief and rescue efforts. The latest shipment, transported by an Indian Air Force aircraft, includes 37.5 tonnes of relief material, essential medicines, and food packets.

Earlier, on Wednesday night, India had sent the first batch of aid comprising 10 tonnes of relief supplies and medicines to Kathmandu aboard a C-130J aircraft.

With the latest delivery, India has provided a total of 47.5 tonnes of relief assistance to Nepal so far.