Bhotekoshi flood 'serious signal' of rising climate risks, says Nepal PM Shah urging global action - The Times of India

**Kathmandu, Nepal –** A sudden flash‑flood on the Bhotekoshi River in the eastern Himalayas has turned into one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent Nepalese history. Torrential monsoon rains and a cascade of landslides caused the river to swell and breach its banks on 27 August, sweeping away villages, roads and bridges across the districts of Sindhuli, Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga. The official death toll, confirmed by the Nepalese government and international monitors, now stands at **1,270**, with more than 5,000 people displaced and dozens still listed as missing. Rescue teams describe the event as a “Himalayan tsunami,” a term that captures both the speed of the water’s advance and the sheer volume of debris it left behind.

In the chaotic aftermath, Nepal’s Army, the Nepalese Red Cross, and a joint Nepal‑China emergency task force have been engaged in continuous search‑and‑rescue operations. Over 1,200 personnel have been deployed, using helicopters, amphibious vehicles and hand‑carried equipment to reach isolated hamlets cut off by washed‑out roads. Among the stories emerging from the rubble is that of a **97‑year‑old woman** who survived for eight to nine hours trapped under debris, emerging with only minor injuries and offering a rare beacon of hope for other victims. Temporary shelters have been set up in schools and community halls, while the Ministry of Health has dispatched mobile clinics to treat injuries and prevent water‑borne disease outbreaks.

Prime Minister **Balendra Shah** addressed the nation on 29 August, calling the Bhotekoshi flood a “serious signal of rising climate risks.” He warned that the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events are consistent with global climate‑change projections and urged the international community to honor its commitments under the Paris Agreement. Shah appealed for accelerated climate‑finance flows, enhanced early‑warning systems, and regional cooperation to build resilient infrastructure in the vulnerable Himalayan corridor. “Our people are on the frontlines of a climate crisis,” he said, “and the world must act now before another Himalayan tsunami claims more lives.” The government has also requested technical assistance from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to strengthen preparedness for future events.