579 Killed In Nepal Floods, 85 Indians Rescued, Hundreds Remain Missing - NDTV

**Nepal’s Deadliest Flood in Decades Leaves Over 500 Dead, Hundreds Missing**

A catastrophic flash flood swept through Nepal’s central and western districts on the night of August 24, killing at least 579 people, rescuers said, and leaving hundreds more unaccounted for. The disaster was triggered by an unprecedented breach of a glacial lake in the Langtang‑Rasu region of the Himalayan range, where rapid meltwater from a collapsing glacier surged down steep valleys, overwhelming villages, roads, and a key highway tunnel near the capital, Kathmandu. The torrent washed away homes, shops, and infrastructure, turning roads into rivers of mud and debris. Authorities estimate that more than 1 million residents across the affected districts have been displaced, with emergency shelters set up in schools and community centers.

Indian nationals were among those caught in the deluge, with 85 citizens rescued by a coordinated effort involving the Indian embassy, the Indian Army, and Nepalese security forces. Rescue teams used boats, helicopters, and improvised rope ladders to pull survivors from flooded homes and the muddy remnants of a tunnel that collapsed under the flood’s force. The operation also saw volunteers and local residents wading through knee‑deep sludge to pull trapped family members to safety. Nepal’s government has appealed for international assistance, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has dispatched emergency supplies, medical teams, and temporary shelters to the hardest‑hit areas.

Experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Reuters’ on‑the‑ground reporters point to climate‑induced glacial melt as a key factor in the disaster, noting that rising temperatures have accelerated the formation of unstable glacial lakes across the Himalayas. The Langtang region, a popular trekking destination, has seen a marked increase in such hazards over the past decade. In response, Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced a review of early‑warning systems and a pledge to invest in more robust flood‑risk mapping, while urging neighboring countries to share expertise in glacier monitoring and disaster mitigation.