Source The Hindu
Kathmandu: Nepal is grappling with one of the deadliest natural disasters in its recent history as catastrophic flash floods continue to devastate several regions, pushing the death toll to 781, officials confirmed on Sunday. The relentless downpour, triggered by unusually intense monsoon rains, has caused rivers to overflow, sweeping away homes, bridges, and entire settlements, leaving thousands displaced and missing.
Rescue teams are now engaged in a desperate race against time to save dozens of workers believed to be trapped inside a tunnel at a hydropower project site. Authorities said that heavy debris and mudslides have blocked access to the tunnel, forcing rescuers to drill through layers of rock and sludge in an attempt to reach the stranded individuals. Officials fear that time is critical, as oxygen levels inside the tunnel may be depleting.
The floods have hit multiple provinces, with the worst-affected areas including Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini. Entire villages have been submerged, and roads connecting remote districts have been rendered unusable. Emergency response teams, supported by the Nepal Army and international aid agencies, are carrying out rescue operations using helicopters and boats to reach stranded residents.
Home Ministry officials reported that more than 1,500 people have been injured, while hundreds remain unaccounted for. Temporary shelters have been set up for displaced families, but resources are stretched thin due to the scale of the disaster. Food, clean drinking water, and medical supplies are urgently needed in affected regions.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal addressed the nation, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives and assuring that the government is doing everything possible to support rescue and relief efforts. “This is a national tragedy. We are mobilizing all available resources to save lives and provide relief to those affected,” he said.
Meteorological experts have linked the severity of the floods to climate change, warning that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent in the Himalayan region. The sudden rise in water levels in rivers, combined with landslides triggered by saturated soil, has compounded the destruction.
Meanwhile, neighboring countries, including India and China, have offered assistance. India has already dispatched rescue teams, relief materials, and medical support to help Nepal cope with the crisis. International humanitarian organizations have also stepped in, pledging aid and technical support for ongoing rescue operations.
Eyewitness accounts paint a grim picture of the devastation. Survivors described how floodwaters surged into their homes within minutes, leaving little time to escape. “We lost everything—our house, our belongings. We barely managed to save our lives,” said a resident from a flood-hit village in Gandaki province.
Efforts to restore infrastructure are underway, but authorities say it may take weeks, if not months, to fully assess and repair the damage. Power outages and communication breakdowns have further complicated rescue and relief operations in remote areas.
The situation at the tunnel site remains particularly critical. Rescue teams are working around the clock, using specialized drilling equipment to penetrate the debris. Officials have not yet established contact with the trapped workers, raising concerns about their condition. However, rescuers remain hopeful that some may have found air pockets within the tunnel.
As Nepal mourns the lives lost, the focus remains on saving those who can still be rescued and providing relief to the thousands affected. The disaster has once again highlighted the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure.
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert, as more rainfall is forecast in the coming days, raising fears of further flooding and landslides. The nation now stands united in grief and resilience, hoping for miracles amid the devastation.
