How are search operations progressing in Nepal, a week after deadly flash flood? - Reuters

**Search Operations a Week After Nepal’s Deadly Flash Flood**

A sudden cloudburst on the banks of the Karnali River on August 12 triggered a flash flood that swept through the remote villages of Humla and Mugu districts, leaving at least 71 people dead and dozens more missing. The deluge breached riverbanks, destroyed bridges, and collapsed a network of narrow tunnels that serve as lifelines for the mountainous communities. Within hours, the Nepalese Army, police, local volunteers, and international aid agencies launched a massive rescue effort, pulling survivors from rooftops and ferrying them to makeshift shelters in the district headquarters.

One week later, search teams are still combing the devastated terrain, focusing on the labyrinth of collapsed tunnels and landslide‑blocked valleys where survivors may still be trapped. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, more than 150 rescue personnel, supported by heavy‑equipment helicopters and sonar‑equipped drones, have cleared debris from 12 of the 23 identified tunnels. So far, the operations have rescued 28 people who were found alive inside the rubble, while the death toll has risen to 79 as bodies are recovered. Officials say the harsh weather, limited road access, and the sheer volume of mud continue to hamper progress, and the final count of missing persons is expected to be revised as the search continues.

Amid the ongoing humanitarian response, Nepal’s government has intensified its appeal for climate justice, demanding compensation from the world’s largest greenhouse‑gas emitters. In statements echoed by NDTV, The Times of India and Bloomberg, Kathmandu has formally sought reparations from China, the United States and India, arguing that their historic emissions have amplified monsoon intensity and increased the frequency of extreme weather events like the recent flood. The foreign ministry has called the request “not charity” but an obligation of large nations to support vulnerable countries that bear the brunt of climate‑driven disasters, and it plans to raise the issue at upcoming UN climate negotiations.