UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “saddened” by the flooding in “Nepal and China” in which 162 people died, and hundreds from around the world are missing, and has offered the world organisation’s help for the relief efforts.
In a post on X, Guterres said, “I am saddened by the severe flooding in Nepal & China, which has claimed many lives, left people missing, and caused widespread destruction. I extend my condolences to the families of the victim, and I wish a swift recovery to those injured. My solidarity is with all those affected. In Nepal, the United Nations is supporting the Government-led response. UN teams & humanitarian partners are mobilizing supplies & personnel to support communities affected by the floods.”
Nepali authorities said that at least 134 Indians were among those missing.
Many of them are pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to the holy mountain in Tibet.
On Wednesday, a massive torrent of water and mud tore through an area along the border between Nepal and Tibet, catching people unaware, before smothering them in a sea of mud and sending buildings and bridges crashing.
The most severely affected area was the crossing points at Rasuwagadhi on the Nepal side and Gyirong in Tibet.
The tally of the missing shows the broad international reach of the tragedy.
Besides the Indians, the missing include 47 Americans, 33 Britons, 34 Australians, 24 Canadians and 19 Malaysians, according to Nepal’s Tourism Board.
Some South Africans were also reported missing.
The Nepali government said 44 Nepal Army personnel, 28 police personnel deployed at various police posts, and 13 Armed Police Force (APF) personnel working in the affected areas remained out of contact.
Additionally, nine hydropower projects and several commercial banks, at least 19 motorable bridges and dozens of public and private properties have been swept away.
Authorities are continuing to collect details of the human and physical losses caused by the disaster.
(With IANS inputs)
