Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced on Friday that 32 Canadian citizens and permanent residents are among the nearly 2,000 individuals missing following a devastating flash flood on the Himalayan border between Nepal and Tibet. Anand revealed that 579 bodies have been recovered in the affected region, with 1,924 people still unaccounted for, including 517 foreign nationals. Fortunately, no Canadians have been reported among the deceased.
Describing the situation as a “de vastating humanitarian emergency with catastrophic damage,” Anand emphasized the dire circumstances in Nepal. In response, Canada pledged $5 million to assist in emergency relief efforts in Nepal.
Efforts to locate the missing individuals continued as rescue teams navigated through mud and debris in the severely affected areas. Authorities from Nepal and China issued warnings about potential further flooding from a newly formed lake upstream following the disaster, urging residents in vulnerable zones to relocate to safer areas.
The Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that 3,742 people have been rescued, with a significant number of tourists from various countries among those missing. A Nepalese army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Raja Ram Basnet, disclosed that a team had been dispatched to the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project near the Nepal-China border to rescue individuals trapped within a tunnel buried under mud.
Oxfam’s humanitarian lead in Nepal, Santosh Pandey, highlighted the immense challenges faced in the rescue efforts, stressing the difficulty in accessing the most affected communities. Entire villages and public infrastructure have been swept away, exacerbating the chaotic situation in the region.
As rescue operations persist, families anxiously await news of their loved ones, with many congregating around hospitals to identify recovered bodies. Among them is Nirmala Sapkota Koholi, who is fervently searching for her younger brother, Pradip Kumar Sapkota, following his disappearance while working as a driver with a group of pilgrims.
Concerns have been raised about a potential secondary flood by Red Cross officials, leading to a temporary halt in rescue operations due to further flooding obstructing relief supplies. Despite offers of assistance from international entities, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry asserted its ability to manage the ongoing rescue endeavors.
Survivors like customs officer Karbir Gaire recounted harrowing experiences during the disaster, underscoring the urgency and complexity of the rescue missions. Gaire’s recollection of the events paints a vivid picture of the catastrophic events that unfolded in Timure, emphasizing the urgent need for aid and support in the region.
