Nepali rescuers have constructed temporary bridges to access isolated locations and have been meticulously sifting through the wreckage of hydropower facilities in the Himalayas to aid hundreds of workers who remain trapped. The death toll has tragically surpassed 1,000, nearly a week after catastrophic floods wreaked havoc across various towns and valleys in the country.
Currently, around 600 individuals are stranded in multiple severely impacted hydropower plants, which have become the focal point of ongoing rescue operations. Prime Minister Balendra Shah reported that over 11,000 people have been successfully rescued in the affected areas, with power and communication services being partially restored in some regions.
As of six days post-disaster, approximately 4,400 people remain unaccounted for in both Nepal and Tibet. Authorities in Kathmandu have urged families of missing tourists to submit DNA samples to facilitate identification.
In a social media announcement, Nepal police requested that relatives of the missing provide “a fresh blood sample for DNA profiling and two passport-sized photographs” to either the pathology laboratory at the Nepal police hospital in Kathmandu or to the nearest district police office.
The list of missing individuals includes 592 foreigners, comprising tourists who came for trekking and Hindu pilgrims seeking solace at Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash, hailing from countries such as India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
Relatives residing abroad have been encouraged to undergo DNA profiling at certified laboratories and to send electronic copies of the DNA profiles to the official email address of the Nepal police.
In some areas affected by the floods, numerous unidentified bodies have already been interred due to decomposition and the lack of available space in hospitals and morgues.
At the police hospital in Kathmandu on Tuesday, over 100 individuals were present, awaiting blood sampling. Among them was Prakaiti Jurnj, whose mother remains missing, though the family was able to identify her father’s body from a photograph displayed outside the teaching hospital, where images of the deceased have been posted to aid in victim identification.
“Both my parents were in the village of Nukawot and were swept away by the flood,” she shared. “We haven’t heard from them since Wednesday. We found my father’s body; my brother recognized him from the photo on the wall.”
She was waiting for her two siblings, who are in the UK, to arrive on Tuesday so they could all attempt to reach their village. She expressed a desire to contact her grandmother or sister-in-law, who she believes survived since their home is located further up the mountain. However, due to ongoing power outages, communication has been impossible.
“I can’t go there; the situation is dire,” she stated. “I am unable to go alone. I am uncertain if we will be able to locate them.”
The disaster was precipitated by a glacier collapse that unleashed a torrent of ice, debris, and mud through the border region between Nepal and China, presenting significant challenges for the newly established government.
This region is prone to floods and landslides, with extreme weather events, including severe monsoons and glacial melting, becoming increasingly frequent due to human-induced climate change.
In a late-night social media update, Shah mentioned that over $42 million in aid has been directed to the country, but the population remains in shock. “The government recognizes the profound suffering they are experiencing. Our priority is to provide support during this challenging time and assist them in returning to normalcy through rehabilitation,” the prime minister noted.
Shah further indicated that 279 workers have been rescued from hydropower facilities, where authorities estimate that nearly 1,000 individuals remain trapped. As days pass following the disaster, hopes are dwindling that any of those confined in the tunnels might still be alive.
Visuals shared by rescue teams depict heavy machinery excavating and clearing debris under floodlights during the night hours. Soldiers utilized flashlights in a large pit they had excavated to explore access to one of the tunnels.
Chinese state media has concentrated on the official response, emphasizing the mobilization of firefighters and the People’s Liberation Army, though little information is available regarding the victims on the Chinese side.
The flood was attributed to “glacier instability resulting from the long-term impacts of global warming,” as reported by China’s state broadcaster on Monday.
Shah emphasized that this calamitous event underscores the escalating risks faced by the Himalayan region. “It is vital for us to remain alert. Now is the time to bring the severe consequences of climate change to the attention of the international community,” he stated in his message.
