More than 250 Indians missing in Nepal flash flood; death toll rises to 95

NEW DELHI: More than 250 Indians are reportedly missing following the flood disaster in Nepal. No information is available on 37 people who travelled from Tamil Nadu and 77 others who travelled with the Isha Foundation. The Indian Embassy had earlier said it was in touch with the Nepal government to gather information about those missing.

The death toll from the floods has risen to 95. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 384 tourists are currently missing. Initial reports had put the number of missing Indians at 105.

Nepal authorities said a 4.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the Tibetan region and that an avalanche triggered by the tremor may have caused the flooding. A flash flood occurred in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district at around 8.30 am.

A large volume of water from the Tibetan side swept away villages and markets in the Syapru Besi and Timure areas. Twelve major hydropower projects and transmission lines were damaged, while 19 bridges and around 40 km of roads were destroyed in the floods.

A massive landslide at the Gyirong border point in Tibet, which connects Nepal and China, has severely disrupted communication services and road transport in the region.