Nepal flash floods LIVE updates: Death toll rises to 623; Over 2,400 missing in Nepal, China - The Hindu

**Flash Floods Ravage Nepal and Parts of Tibet, Death Toll Swells to 623** A series of unprecedented flash floods struck Nepal’s eastern and central hill districts on August 23, 2024, after a sudden deluge triggered by a glacial lake outburst and intense monsoon rains. The cascading water swept through valleys, wiping out homes, roads, and a key railway tunnel that links the country with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. By Sunday night, authorities confirmed 623 fatalities and more than 2,400 people still missing across 14 districts, with a comparable surge of casualties reported in adjacent Tibetan counties. The disaster has been described by survivors as “like a movie scene,” with entire villages swept away in minutes and rescue crews battling continuing landslides that block access to the hardest‑hit zones.

The Nepalese government, overwhelmed by the scale of the catastrophe, has issued an urgent appeal for international assistance. India, despite a recent diplomatic spat over foreign‑aid policy, dispatched a 150‑person rapid‑response team, helicopters, and medical supplies within hours of the request. China’s People’s Liberation Army sent search‑and‑rescue units to the border area, while the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs coordinated logistics for food, clean water, and temporary shelters. Nepal’s army is leading tunnel rescue operations and body‑management efforts, using specialized equipment to locate survivors trapped in collapsed infrastructure. Over 12,000 families have been relocated to emergency camps, and the Ministry of Home Affairs has declared a state of emergency for the affected districts.

The calamity highlights the growing vulnerability of the Himalayan region to climate‑induced hazards. Experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) warn that accelerated glacial melt, coupled with erratic monsoon patterns, is increasing the frequency of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). In response, Nepal has pledged to accelerate its early‑warning systems, improve cross‑border data sharing with China, and seek long‑term funding for resilient infrastructure. As rescue operations continue and the death toll rises, the international community watches closely, urging swift humanitarian aid and a coordinated approach to mitigate future disasters in the fragile mountain ecosystem.