49 Indians among 546 missing in Tibet as Nepal flood toll rises to 781
India has deployed technical specialists and delivered 68.5 tonnes of relief material as searches continue across the Nepal-Tibet border region.
BEIJING/KATHMANDU:
Forty-nine Indians were among 546 people reported missing in Tibet after catastrophic flash floods near the Nepal border, Chinese officials said on Sunday. Sixteen deaths have been reported in Tibet, while authorities in Nepal placed the toll there at 781, with nearly 2,500 people still unaccounted for.
The floods struck the Gyirong immigration port on August 26 when hundreds of travellers were waiting to cross the border. Chinese authorities said the missing included 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries. Besides the Indians, the list included 104 Nepalis, 33 Latvians, 18 Americans and 15 British nationals.
Several Indian pilgrims had travelled to Tibet for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. The identities of the missing Indians had not been released at the time of publication. Chinese authorities said the embassies and consulates of the affected countries had been informed.
In Nepal, 537 workers and employees remained unaccounted for at nine hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Mud, debris, damaged roads and adverse weather have slowed attempts to reach tunnels where workers may be trapped.
India has provided 68.5 tonnes of relief supplies and sent tunnel engineers, doctors, paramedics and equipment. A fourth Indian flight carrying 11 tonnes of assistance reached Nepal on Sunday, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Nepal has also sought assistance from India and China to install 42 Bailey bridges and restore disrupted transport links. Meanwhile, authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district placed vulnerable areas near the Gandak river on alert following increased discharge from the Valmikinagar barrage.
