Nepal flash floods LIVE: Death toll crosses 350; at least 288 Indians still missing - The Hindu

**Nepal Flash Floods Claim Over 350 Lives, Hundreds More Missing**

A massive flash‑flood event that struck central Nepal on the night of 30 July has left the death toll at **more than 350**, according to the Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs. The disaster, triggered by unprecedented monsoon rains and the sudden breach of a glacial lake in the **Bhote Koshi** basin, has also left **at least 288 Indian nationals unaccounted for**, many of whom were part of a pilgrimage convoy traveling through the region. Rescue teams from Nepal, India, and several international NGOs have been working round‑the‑clock amid landslides, collapsed bridges and a chaotic road network to locate survivors and retrieve bodies.

The flood’s underlying cause is a **glacial‑lake outburst (GLOF)** that created a new, rapidly expanding lake at the foot of the Himalayas. The lake, formed when a previously stable moraine dam gave way, now threatens to burst again, endangering downstream communities along the Bhote Koshi, a major tributary of the Koshi River. Officials in Nepal have warned that **China’s side of the trans‑Himalayan watershed did not provide early warning**, a point highlighted by regional analysts who say the lack of cross‑border communication could cause the death toll to rise “unbelievably.” The BBC and The Hindu have both reported that the lake’s water level continues to rise, prompting urgent calls for monitoring and possible controlled drainage.

In response, Nepal’s army, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs have mobilised **air‑lift, helicopter, and ground‑based rescue assets**. The Indian government has dispatched a dedicated task force to locate the missing citizens, while Indian spiritual leader **Sadhguru** publicly expressed his anguish, describing the incident as a “terrible, extraordinary event.” Humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies and temporary shelter, is being channeled through relief camps in the districts of **Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok and Dolakha**. Authorities say the focus now is on stabilising the new lake, reinforcing riverbanks, and establishing a joint Nepal‑China early‑warning system to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe.