Nepal flood toll rises as threats mount again
A rising lake adds fresh peril to the flood crisis, forcing authorities to warn residents away from vulnerable riverbanks
The death toll from devastating flash flood in Nepal has risen to 359, Nepal Police confirmed on Thursday, as rescue teams continued searching for missing people and authorities warned of a possible threat of fresh floods.
Police said 359 bodies had been recovered from eight districts. The toll includes 17 deaths in Rasuwa, 28 in Nuwakot, 33 in Dhading, 132 in Chitwan, 30 in Gorkha, 22 in Tanahun, 82 in Nawalparasi East and 15 in Nawalparasi West.
The floods have caused widespread destruction across parts of central Nepal, damaging roads and bridges and disrupting connectivity to several areas. Security personnel, local residents and Government agencies are continuing search-and-rescue operations, while also working to relocate families living in flood-prone areas to safer locations.
A new danger emerged on Wednesday after a river blockage caused water to accumulate and formed a lake. Nepal’s disaster management authorities warned that the water level was continuing to rise and that the lake could potentially burst, sending a powerful surge downstream.
Residents and rescue workers have been urged to remain away from riverbanks and other vulnerable areas as authorities monitor the situation closely.
The flooding has also severely affected communities and infrastructure along major river systems. Numerous roads and bridges have been damaged, leaving some areas difficult to access. Rescue and relief operations are continuing despite challenging conditions.
The disaster followed a massive ice-and-rock collapse in the Himalayan region that triggered a powerful flow of water, mud and debris. The resulting floods swept through settlements, causing extensive destruction in Nepal and neighbouring Tibet.
Families of missing people have gathered at hospitals and other locations as authorities work to identify recovered bodies and trace those who remain unaccounted for.
With the death toll reaching 359 and the threat posed by the rising lake still unresolved, authorities remain on high alert. Rescue, relief and search operations are continuing across the affected districts as officials work to prevent further loss of life.
