- Massive flash floods swept through Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal on Wednesday, killing over 500 people and causing widespread damage to settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure.
- On Friday, Nepal said it wants to prioritise maximum deployment of its own security forces, which are familiar with local environmental conditions and rugged terrain.
- Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the government is ready to take international assistance in difficult cases, where special technical skills are required for extremely complex physical structures.
- Nepal had requested India and China to help construct 42 Bailey bridges to resume transport services in the flood-hit areas.
- An 11-member Indian rescue team arrived in Nepal on Saturday to assist local authorities following flash floods that killed more than 500 people and left nearly 2,000 others missing.
- The team, which includes medical personnel and tunnel rescue experts, was sent at the request of the Nepal government.
- 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu returned home on Friday, describing their return as 'nothing short of a second birth.'
- Their pilgrimage to Nepal turned into a fight for survival when an avalanche-triggered flash flood struck their convoy, sweeping away two of the three buses.
- One survivor described the flash flood as a loud noise like a bomb blast, and recounted how the three buses locked together, allowing them to climb on top and then to a hill where an Armed Reserve Police camp provided shelter.
- One survivor said she only thought about her daughter during the ordeal, and another called it a 'miraculous escape' and a 'new birth,' attributing the disaster to climate change.
- Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Raj Mohan said around 400 people from Tamil Nadu may have travelled to Nepal around this time, with 140 rescued and safe, and at least 80 still missing.
- A team of four Tamil Nadu ministers was deployed to Delhi to coordinate the return of the rescued pilgrims and to trace the missing.
- A relative of a missing pilgrim called for a government-verified list, citing confusion, and a PIL was filed in the Madras High Court seeking clarity and action.
Flash floods in Nepal have wreaked havoc, claiming over 500 lives and leaving nearly 2,000 missing. The floods, triggered by an avalanche, swept through Rasuwa and other regions, causing extensive damage to infrastructure.
In response, an 11-member Indian rescue team was dispatched to assist local authorities. The team includes medical personnel and tunnel rescue experts, sent at the request of the Nepal government.56
Among the survivors are 21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims who experienced a harrowing escape. One survivor recounted, "There was a loud noise, like a bomb blast, when the flash floods struck our convoy of three buses." They managed to climb to safety after their buses were swept away.9101112
Tamil Nadu officials reported that around 400 people from the state had traveled to Nepal, with 140 rescued and 80 still missing. A team of four ministers has been deployed to coordinate the return of the rescued pilgrims and trace the missing individuals.
The situation remains critical, with Nepal prioritizing the deployment of its own security forces while also seeking international assistance for complex rescue operations. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal stated, "The government is ready to take international assistance in difficult cases."3
“Nepal had requested India and China to help construct 42 Bailey bridges to resume transport, while Tamil Nadu Minister Raj Mohan said at least 80 from the state are still missing. A survivor described the flood as 'a loud noise, like a bomb blast,' and a PIL was filed in the Madras High Court seeking clarity.”
