Pictures BS News Agency.
BS News Agency: Nepal is devastated by the terrible Harappa forest fire, with 133 Indians and many foreign tourists missing. Local news agency sources claim that more than a thousand ordinary people are missing. The list of missing includes 41 police personnel and 14 customs department employees. On Wednesday morning, a huge amount of water suddenly entered the Bhotekoshi river from the Tibetan side. In an instant, several settlements, markets, roads and bridges along the riverbanks were swept away by the strong current. Bridges were twisted and broken one after another like toys due to the impact of the current. The administration has confirmed the death of at least eight people in Nepal's Rasua district so far. At least 25 people have been rescued. It is feared that the actual number of casualties may increase as communication is cut off in remote areas. Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah has called an emergency meeting of the cabinet to review this terrible situation. However, despite the lack of rain, the question arises as to how such a flood could occur in Nepal on a sunny day.
Why did this flash flood occur?
Locals claim that there has not been much rain in northern Nepal in the last few days. In fact, the weather in Rasua was sunny this morning as well. Meanwhile, without any advance warning, a huge stream of water and mud coming down from Tibet swept away several districts of northern Nepal, including Rasua. About a dozen villages in Rasua district have been almost wiped out. Initially, experts estimate that this flood did not occur due to heavy rainfall in Rasua. According to satellite data, there has been heavy rainfall in Tibet in the last few days. Due to this, the dam broke. The huge amount of water and mud that broke the dam suddenly entered the Bhotekoshi River and caused a terrible flood. However, it is still not certain whether any glacier-lake had broken and the water came down.
In Nepal, landslides and flash floods are not new phenomena in the mountainous areas during the monsoon season. However, the risk of heavy rainfall, glacier melt and flash floods in the Himalayan region is increasing due to the impact of climate change. In the past, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods have caused extensive damage in various mountainous areas of Nepal. What happened in Nepal on Wednesday?
About a dozen villages along the river, including Syabrubesi and Timure markets in Rasua district, have been reduced to rubble by the strong current of water and mud flowing at high speed from the Tibetan border. The settlements along the river have been particularly damaged. Uttara Gaya Rural Municipality Deputy Chairman Chameli Gurung said that about a dozen villages including Safrubeshi, Betravati, Mailung, Salletar, Shantibazar, Pirebeshi, Khalti Basti, Sole, Trishuli and Battar have been washed away. As a result, many people are feared dead. The army helicopter that went to rescue them could not make an emergency landing as the local helipad was washed away by the forest, making the rescue work challenging. Apart from this, several local power plants, including the Chilime Hydropower Project, were damaged or completely washed away by the forest. As a result, darkness has descended in the entire district. Which further increases the danger. Hundreds of Indians missing
According to the information provided by the Nepal Tourism Board, at least 384 tourists are missing. 291 foreign tourists, including 105 Indians, are missing. 93 Nepalese citizens are also missing while visiting the Harpa forest-ravaged area.
Can the danger increase further?
Nepal has been devastated by the first gust of Harpa forest. However, experts fear that the disaster does not end here. Due to the Harpa forest, the water level of the Bhotekoshi River in the lower basin has increased dangerously. As a result, there is a risk of houses being washed away in the riverbank areas of Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan districts. The government is evacuating residents from that area to safer places. In addition, Nepal's Flood Forecasting Department said that the water level of the river has risen to the Gulchi area of Dhading. It was feared that the flood water would cross Muglin within a few hours. Therefore, an alert has been issued in that area as well. The administration has requested people to avoid traveling on the Prithvi Highway and Muglin-Narayanghat road. Government's Action
Prime Minister Balendra Shah called a cabinet meeting immediately after the news of the incident. Nepal Army helicopters have been deployed for rescue operations. The Nepalese Prime Minister said that the government has deployed the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police for rescue and relief operations and additional personnel are being sent from other districts. In addition, the Disaster Response Force has been involved in the rescue operations. The Nepalese government has requested medical teams, scouts and the Red Cross to assist. More ambulances and medical personnel are being deployed. On the other hand, an emergency helpline number has been launched. Several information is still unknown