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The ferocious nature of nature has caused huge devastation in the Himalayan border areas of Nepal. Hundreds of people are in trouble due to the sudden devastating flash flood and massive landslide in the Bhotekoshi river in Rasuwa district bordering Tibet. Hundreds of local citizens of Nepal as well as foreign tourists and pilgrims from all over the world are trapped in this horrific natural disaster. According to preliminary data from Nepal Tourism Board and local administration, the largest number of missing and cut off people are Indian citizens. Considering the seriousness of the situation, Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Indian Embassy have jointly intensified the relief and rescue operations on war footing.
Biggest crisis on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route
The Rasuwagadhi route, hit by floods and debris, is the most important and busy transit route for pilgrims going from India to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet. Pilgrimage through this route was resumed on a large scale through private tour operators after a gap of about five years. On Wednesday morning, when the passengers were moving ahead from their halts, the water level of Bhotekoshi river suddenly became dire. According to eyewitnesses, the flow of water and debris was so fast that no one even got a chance to recover. According to preliminary data from the Nepal Tourism Board, of the more than 380 missing and uncontacted travelers, more than 130 include Indian citizens and NRIs. Apart from this, tourists from America, Britain, Australia, Malaysia, South Africa and Netherlands are also stranded in the affected areas due to this disaster.
Infrastructure ground down and connectivity lost
This disaster has devastated the infrastructure of the entire border area. The historic Miteri Bridge (Friendship Bridge) connecting Nepal and China (Tibet) has been washed away in the strong current of water. Along with this, more than 19 important motor vehicle bridges and more than 40 kilometers long roads have been completely damaged. It has become extremely challenging to contact people stranded in the affected areas due to disruption of mobile towers, optical fiber networks and power supply in Rasuwa and Dhading districts. Many hydropower projects working in the area are also reported to have suffered heavy losses.
Maha-rescue operation with helicopter and sniffer dogs
Seeing the seriousness of the situation, the Nepal government has deployed army, police and special disaster management units on the ground. Due to the inaccessible hilly terrain and the road route being completely cut off, rescue operations are being carried out by air. More than 14 helicopters, modern drone cameras and sniffer dogs have been deployed in the rescue operation. Emergency fuel depots and mobile airbases for helicopters have been created at Army Barracks in Nuwakot and Dhading, so that there is no delay in relief flights. Seriously injured people are being airlifted to hospitals in Kathmandu, while special medical camps have been set up in Rasuwa for others.
Government of India alert, issued 24×7 emergency helpline number
The Government of India and the Ministry of External Affairs are in constant touch with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu regarding the safety of Indian citizens stranded in Nepal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while talking to the Prime Minister of Nepal over phone, expressed deep condolences on the loss of life and property and has made a full offer of humanitarian assistance and deployment of relief teams from India.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has issued 24-hour emergency helpline numbers for the affected Indians and their concerned families:
Along with this, many state governments including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra have also activated State Disaster Management Control Rooms to inquire about the well-being of their citizens and provide assistance:
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Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Toll-Free: 1070/0522-2238200
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Uttarakhand Disaster Control Room: 1070/0135-2710334
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Maharashtra State Disaster Management: 022-22027990
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Chhattisgarh Disaster Management Helpline: 1070 / +91-771-2223471
Alert and local impact in border areas of India
This surge in the rivers of Nepal is likely to have a direct geographical impact on the border plain states of India as well. The waters of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers further join the Gandak and Kosi river systems. Due to this, the administration has issued a high alert in Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Siddharthnagar of Uttar Pradesh and West Champaran and border districts of Bihar. In the villages situated on the river banks in low-lying areas, people are being advised to move to safe places by sounding sirens and the water level is being monitored round the clock.
Rescue operations expected to speed up with improvement in weather
According to the weather department and the local administration, the frequency of rescue flights will be further increased as soon as the weather clears in the higher Himalayan valleys and visibility over clouds improves. Through the network of tour operators and guides, the exact location of each traveler stranded on the trekking routes is being mapped. The agencies of India and Nepal are working together to ensure that all the stranded pilgrims and tourists are safely evacuated and transported to their destination.