United News of Bangladesh

Authorities in Nepal warned of possible fresh flooding on Sunday and urged residents in flood-affected districts to remain on high alert after water levels rose in the Bhotekoshi River. Flood warning notices were sent to people's phones early Sunday as rescue crews worked to clear a major highway connecting Kathmandu to one of the areas worst hit by Wednesday's catastrophic floods, which killed at least 800 people and left more than 3,000 missing in Nepal and Tibet. In Dhading, one of the worst-hit regions in Nepal, some residents began returning to ruined homes to see what can be salvaged. Residents sat in homes with walls washed away by the floods, shoveling sludge-like mud and rubble off balconies or window frames. Others scanned the ground for items they could pick out of the mud and rinse off. One man had returned for his chickens, which he found alive. He tied them up and put them in the cabin of his truck. “Everything is finished. Nothing is left. Not even our home,” Sharmila Tamang, a Dhading resident who was trying to salvage items from her home, told The Associated Press. At a key power plant that was severely damaged by the floods, workers started inspecting the facilities Sunday to survey the destruction. The plant serves over 20,000 people across four districts. In the town of Galchhi, a group of residents sought higher ground on a nearby bridge and watched as the river roared by. Some pointed to enormous rocks washed downriver during the earlier floods, while others standing on a suspension bridge were warned off with whistles. Along the river, homes, vehicles and farm tractors could be seen jutting from the thick gray-brown sediment that enveloped entire villages in some areas. Parts of rice terraces along the riverside had dropped into the river after landslides hit them. Nepal’s disaster agency said Sunday the death toll had climbed to 788 with 2,502 missing, while Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing on the Chinese side of the border. The missing include hundreds of people from over a dozen countries who were in the region to work, visit the mountains or make a pilgrimage to a sacred peak. On Sunday, Chinese state media said 261 foreigners were missing in Tibet, including over a hundred Nepalis and others from around the world. Residents are receiving constant flood warnings Homes and businesses left intact after the flooding were still without electricity on Sunday, as twisted power line poles and wires lay tangled in the mud. Prithivi Highway is a crucial supply route for food, fuel and other goods entering Kathmandu from other parts of the country. While most of the highway is operational, other parts still face repair challenges. The latest warnings came after Chinese authorities informed their Nepalese counterparts of increased water flow upstream, according to Dharam Raj Uprety, chief executive of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. But residents of the flood-hit villages said they were struggling to make sense of near-constant alarms they've received since the initial floods. “Sometimes they say a flood is coming, then we have to run again to higher ground, even at night. There is also rain,” said Govind Shreshta, a resident. “It’s really difficult for me. I have a 72-year-old father and 70-year-old mom. I must carry them and I am exhausted. It’s going on like this for those who are still alive.” Large concrete and smaller suspension bridges were destroyed, leaving communities on the other side of the river with less easy access. “Those who are there are now stuck there. Those who are here are stuck here. It’s going to be very difficult,” said Sattan Singh Tamang, 47, who was working near a bridge when Wednesday’s floods came. Minister says Nepalis have become victims of climate change Wednesday’s flash floods started after a glacial collapse high in the Himalayan region. Scientists who studied satellite images said bedrock underneath a glacier high in the Himalayan region had collapsed, taking part of the glacier with it. The rockfall was so extreme that it registered as magnitude 5.2. The rocks and melted water then swelled the rivers in the valleys below, causing a torrent of water that swept buildings, bridges and earth downstream in Tibet and Nepal. Nepal’s foreign minister called for a global response to climate change, saying Nepal was bearing a disproportionate share of its impact. “Despite having only 0.1 percent contribution to the global emissions, people of Nepal have become major victims of climate change,” Shisir Khanal said Saturday. Scientists have said it is too early to draw a direct connection between global warming and Wednesday’s catastrophe. However, they said that as Earth’s temperature rises because of human activities such as burning oil, gas and coal, the chances of such disasters increase, especially in the Himalayan mountains, which are warming considerably faster than many other parts of the world. Meanwhile, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Sunday his country will send a search-and-rescue team to Nepal to assist with relief efforts and help evacuate Malaysians affected by the disaster. Malaysia has also pledged $1 million in financial aid to Nepal, he said in a statement.

The death toll from catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-China border has risen to 691, with more than 3,000 people still missing as rescue teams continue searching devastated communities for survivors. China reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing, while Nepal’s disaster agency said late Saturday that 675 people had died and 2,498 remained missing. More than 3,700 people have so far been rescued in Nepal. In Nuwakot, one of the worst-hit districts, helicopters arrived carrying relief supplies, including clothes, instant noodles, crackers and rice, while others evacuated survivors from flood-affected areas. Many survivors arrived with little more than the clothes they were wearing. Soldiers helped elderly people off helicopters and carried others to medical tents. Several babies were also among those evacuated from the nearby community of Trishuli. While many residents continued to leave Trishuli, some returned to their devastated homes to look for belongings that could be salvaged. One resident, Shoba Shretha, returned to find her dog, Sweetie, which she had been forced to leave behind when the floods struck. She was later seen sitting on the ground, petting the dog and giving it water. At the same time, families in Kathmandu continued searching desperately for missing relatives at the main government hospital. Many checked help desks and hospital notice boards while carrying photographs of their loved ones. Posters showing photographs and contact numbers of missing people covered hospital walls in the hope of finding information. In Nuwakot, military personnel posted lists of missing and dead people at a relief centre, drawing crowds of anxious relatives. Rajesh Kumar Ram, who was searching for his son, said he still hoped he would be found alive. “I’m hopeful, by chance, that my son is somewhere,” he said through tears. Priti Kharel was also searching for her brother, Milan Kharel, an engineering geologist working for Doosan Enerbility. She believes he may be among those trapped inside a tunnel at a hydropower construction site. “We want the government to rescue him as soon as possible,” she said. Search and rescue operations continued at several locations in Nepal and Tibet, including the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa and the badly damaged Gyirong border crossing on the Chinese side. Nepali Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet said authorities believe more than 100 people could be trapped inside a tunnel at the hydropower project, where thick mud has made rescue operations extremely difficult. Rescuers have also remained alert to the possibility of further flooding from a newly formed lake high in the Himalayas. The lake emerged after a glacier collapse triggered the initial floods on Wednesday. Data from China’s Ministry of Water Resources showed that the lake had decreased in size, with its water level falling by about 10 metres from its peak on Thursday morning, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Chinese state media also showed rescuers reaching the devastated Gyirong Port and searching the area for survivors. It remains unclear how many people were inside the border checkpoint when the floods struck. Hundreds of those still missing are foreigners who were in the region for work, trekking or pilgrimage. Chinese state media said 261 foreigners were among the missing, including 104 Nepalis, 49 Indians, 33 Latvians, 18 Americans and 15 Britons. Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the government had mobilised all available resources, with international assistance, to locate those still missing and conduct rescue and relief operations. He said the rugged terrain, steep mountains and narrow gorges were making rescue efforts particularly challenging. Nepal has sought specialised assistance from neighbouring countries for tunnel rescue operations, survivor-detection technology, rapid forensic and DNA analysis and morgue refrigeration facilities. An 11-member tunnel rescue reconnaissance team from India has already been deployed, while a similar team from China is expected to arrive soon. Khanal said Nepal had received more than 57 metric tons of relief supplies from India, while China, Japan, Australia and other countries were also providing assistance. Further international support would be sought based on ongoing assessments of needs.

Rescue teams on Saturday continued evacuating survivors from areas devastated by catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-China border, while families anxiously searched for relatives still missing. The combined death toll in Nepal and Tibet has risen to 633, while nearly 3,000 people remain unaccounted for, according to figures released by authorities. Chinese authorities have reported seven deaths and more than 550 people missing. In Nepal’s Nuwakot district, one of the worst-hit areas, helicopter operations resumed before noon after bad weather temporarily disrupted aerial rescue efforts. Some helicopters arrived carrying relief supplies, including clothes, instant noodles, crackers and rice, while others evacuated survivors from flood-hit communities. At relief centres, soldiers helped elderly people and carried babies who had been rescued from the nearby community of Trishuli. Medical workers examined evacuees after they arrived. As some residents were still being evacuated from Trishuli, others returned to their damaged homes to search for belongings that might have survived the floods. One boy was seen carrying muddy sandals from his home, while resident Shoba Shretha returned to look for her dog, Sweetie, which she had been forced to leave behind during the flooding. Relief workers later cleared villagers, journalists and volunteers from the entrance to the community as excavation machinery moved in to continue clearing mud and debris. In the capital Kathmandu, relatives and friends gathered outside the main government hospital, hoping to find information about loved ones who have been missing since the disaster. Families moved between help desks and hospital notice boards, checking lists of injured people and putting up posters containing photographs and contact numbers of missing relatives. Officials also displayed photographs of unidentified bodies in an effort to help families identify them. Gajendra Rawat, a security official working at the hospital help desk, said around 1,600 missing people had been registered there since the disaster. “People are coming from all parts of Nepal,” he said. At a relief centre in Nuwakot, military personnel posted lists containing the names of dozens of missing people. Relatives gathered around the lists, taking photographs and searching anxiously for familiar names. Rajesh Kumar Ram, who was searching for his son, said he was still hoping he might be found alive. “I’m hopeful that my son is somewhere. Maybe they find him stuck somewhere. I’m waiting for that moment only,” he said. Search and rescue operations were continuing at several locations in Nepal and China’s Tibet, including the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district and the heavily damaged Gyirong border crossing. Nepali Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet said rescue operations would continue at the hydropower project, where more than 100 people are believed to be trapped inside a tunnel filled with mud. Rescuers have used baskets and ropes to reach some people, but the operation has been hampered by mud up to 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 metres) deep and limited helicopter landing sites. Rescue teams have also remained alert to the possibility of further flooding from a newly formed lake high in the Himalayas. The lake was created after a glacier collapsed and triggered the initial floods on Wednesday. Chinese monitoring data showed the lake had decreased in size by late Friday, with its water level falling about 10 metres (32 feet) from its peak on Thursday morning, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Meanwhile, aid trucks continued heading from Kathmandu toward the affected areas. On the Chinese side, rescuers reached the devastated Gyirong Port on Saturday by foot and raft, while some were lowered into the area by drones, according to CCTV footage. It remained unclear how many people were inside the border checkpoint building when the floods struck. Nepal’s disaster agency said Saturday that the country’s death toll had reached 626, with 2,426 people still missing. More than 3,700 people have been rescued so far. Chinese state media reported that 554 people remained missing on the Chinese side. Many of those unaccounted for are foreigners who had travelled to the area for work, trekking or pilgrimage.

Six months into a devastating war, Iran’s leadership has consolidated around a group of senior military commanders and clerics with deep roots in the country’s ruling system, signaling preparations for a prolonged standoff with the United States while moving aggressively to prevent unrest at home. The development is a sharp departure from US President Donald Trump’s early expectation that the Islamic Republic could be toppled, followed by his later assertion that regime change had brought more moderate figures into Iran’s leadership. Iran’s new ruling circle appears deeply skeptical of reaching an agreement with Trump after being attacked twice while negotiations were underway. Officials may also be preparing for renewed US strikes after Washington replenishes its stocks of missile interceptors. At the same time, Iran has warned it could intensify the conflict as a US blockade and planned sanctions place additional pressure on an economy already struggling. “If Trump wants to act, we will respond on a seismic scale,” Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s newly appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said last weekend. In a post on X, he warned that continued economic warfare could result in Iran stopping all oil exports from the Persian Gulf. Iran moves to prevent another wave of unrest Rezaei was among a series of appointments announced by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to establish the country’s new senior leadership and military command structure. His father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and many senior officials were killed in the US-Israeli bombing campaign that began Feb. 28. The appointment of Hossein Taeb as head of the Basij, the Revolutionary Guard’s volunteer force used to maintain order on the streets, was particularly significant. The Basij played a major role in suppressing nationwide protests in January, when thousands were killed. Taeb, a hard-line cleric and former intelligence chief, was also involved in an earlier major crackdown during protests in 2009. His return to a prominent security position suggests Iran’s leadership is determined to prevent fresh demonstrations as economic hardship and public dissatisfaction increase. The 56-year-old supreme leader has not appeared publicly or in recorded video or audio since Israeli attacks killed his father, who had led Iran for nearly four decades. Mojtaba Khamenei is also believed to have been injured. His absence could be linked either to extensive security precautions because he remains a potential Israeli target or to the severity of his injuries. Khamenei relies on longtime hard-line alliesThrough appointments announced Aug. 11 and 12, Khamenei brought several longtime allies into key positions, including Rezaei and Taeb. The appointments appear to strengthen a group of veteran commanders who have worked together for decades, said Sascha Bruchmann, an analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Middle East office in Bahrain. Rezaei, 71, commanded Iran’s Revolutionary Guard during much of its early development, including the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, and remained in the position until 1997. He has repeatedly sought the presidency as a hard-line candidate since 2009. Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, 68, was formally confirmed as commander of the Revolutionary Guard after serving as acting chief following the death of his predecessor alongside the elder Khamenei. Gen. Ali Ozmaei was confirmed as acting commander of the Guard’s naval forces, while Gen. Ali Abdollahi retained his position as military chief of staff. Bruchmann noted that Rezaei had commanded Vahidi for years, describing the appointments as an effort to reinforce unity within the leadership. “It looks like internal cohesion, with hard-core figures being brought into the inner circle,” he said. Economic pressure fuels calls for restraintHomayoun Falakshahi, Kpler’s leading oil analyst, said the appointments of Rezaei and Vahidi indicated growing influence for officials favoring a tougher approach. However, he said a further escalation was not unavoidable. Iran could struggle to restore deterrence through military action without provoking a response that would leave the country in an even weaker position. A ceasefire agreed in June quickly unraveled as Iran, the US and Israel exchanged strikes. Tehran has demanded the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets under the agreement and has also sought formal control over the Strait of Hormuz. President Masoud Pezeshkian remains among the most prominent officials advocating negotiations. His supporters warn that continuing the conflict could worsen Iran’s already fragile economy. “It would be better to end the war,” Pezeshkian said last week, arguing that Iran had demonstrated its strength and gained international recognition while the United States had become widely disliked. He has also defended the June ceasefire agreement against hard-line critics who say Tehran made excessive concessions. Rezaei, unlike some ultra-hard-liners who reject negotiations outright, has left the door open to a potential agreement if Washington changes course. On Monday, he told Pakistani mediator Gen. Asim Munir that the United States should alter its approach and take concrete steps to fulfill the ceasefire conditions. Tehran-based political analyst Ahmad Zeidabadi said the country’s leadership faces “serious differences” over its future direction. Writing in the pro-Pezeshkian newspaper Hammihan, Zeidabadi said hard-liners oppose restoring normal relations with Washington because their political survival is tied to continued confrontation and hostility. Basij appointment highlights concern over protestsThere have so far been no indications of a fresh protest movement, even as rising economic pressures make basic necessities increasingly difficult for many Iranians to afford. Taeb’s appointment to lead the Basij indicates that the leadership wants to deal with possible unrest before it develops, Bruchmann said. Taeb, 63, previously headed the Basij during the suppression of large demonstrations following hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed reelection in 2009. Dozens of people were killed during the unrest. He later became chief of the Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence organization, holding the post for nearly 13 years before being removed in 2022 amid a reported shake-up following Israeli intelligence successes inside Iran. The Basij operates a nationwide volunteer network with a presence in streets, government institutions and cultural centers. Its role includes promoting loyalty to Iran’s theocratic system and monitoring ideological conformity. In the decree appointing Taeb, Khamenei instructed him to expand the Basij’s involvement in Iranian society, make greater use of technology and promote the force internationally in opposition to what he described as “Zionist-American arrogance.” That wording could indicate an effort to expand the Basij’s connections with Iranian-backed groups abroad. The force increased its presence during the war, while hard-line supporters organized nightly rallies in Tehran and other cities to demonstrate loyalty to the government and discourage dissent. It remains unclear how Taeb intends to expand the Basij’s role. But in a recent speech, he appeared to advocate greater influence over Iranian society. He said US economic pressure was designed to divide the country and argued that stronger community ties centered around mosques could help preserve national unity. “If the mosque becomes the center of the neighborhood, the nation will protect its unity,” he said, describing that unity as a stronger deterrent than any missile.

The death toll from devastating flash floods along the Nepal-China border has risen to 676, while nearly 3,000 people remain missing as rescue teams continue searching for survivors and evacuating people from the worst-hit areas. Nepal’s disaster agency reported 669 deaths and 2,426 people missing in the country, while China has reported seven deaths and 554 people missing. In Nuwakot, one of Nepal’s worst-affected districts, helicopters resumed rescue operations Saturday after bad weather temporarily disrupted aerial efforts. Some helicopters carried relief supplies, including clothes, instant noodles, crackers and rice, to flood-hit communities, while others brought survivors to safety. At relief centres, soldiers helped elderly people and carried babies who had been evacuated from the nearby community of Trishuli. Medical workers examined the survivors after their arrival. While some residents were leaving Trishuli, others returned to their devastated homes to search for belongings they might be able to salvage. One boy was seen carrying muddy sandals from his home, while resident Shoba Shretha returned to look for her dog, Sweetie, which she had been forced to leave behind when the flooding began. In Kathmandu, relatives gathered outside the main government hospital, desperately searching for information about loved ones who remain missing. Families moved between help desks and hospital notice boards, checking lists of injured people and putting up posters with photographs and contact numbers of missing relatives. Officials also displayed photographs of unidentified bodies in the hope that families or friends could recognize them. Gajendra Rawat, a security official at the hospital help desk, said around 1,600 missing people had been registered there since the disaster. “People are coming from all parts of Nepal,” he said. At a relief centre in Nuwakot, military personnel posted lists of missing people on walls as families gathered to search for their relatives. Rajesh Kumar Ram, who was looking for his son, said he remained hopeful that he might still be found alive. “I’m hopeful, by chance, that my son is somewhere,” he said through tears. “Maybe they find him stuck somewhere. I’m waiting for that moment only.” As the search continued, more people gathered at an army barracks seeking information about missing family members. Priti Kharel was among them, holding a poster of her brother Milan Kharel, an engineering geologist working for Doosan Enerbility. His family has not heard from him since the floods. Kharel said she believed her brother could be among those trapped inside a tunnel at a hydropower construction site, where rescuers have already recovered some survivors. “We want the government to rescue him as soon as possible,” she said. Search and rescue operations continued at several locations in Nepal and China’s Tibet, including the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district and the badly damaged Gyirong border crossing. Nepali Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet said rescuers would continue operations at the hydropower project, where more than 100 people are believed to be trapped inside a tunnel filled with thick mud. Rescuers have used ropes and baskets to reach some people, but the operation remains difficult because the tunnel is covered by up to 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 metres) of mud and there are few suitable locations for helicopters to land. Rescue teams have also been placed on alert over the possibility of another flood from a newly formed lake high in the Himalayas. The lake was created after a glacier collapse triggered Wednesday’s floods. Chinese monitoring data showed the lake had shrunk by late Friday, with its water level falling about 10 metres (32 feet) from its peak on Thursday morning, according to state broadcaster CCTV. On the Chinese side, rescuers reached the devastated Gyirong Port on Saturday by foot and raft, while some were lowered into the area from drones. It remained unclear how many people were inside the border checkpoint building when the floods struck. Nepal has so far rescued more than 3,700 people. Hundreds of those still missing are foreigners who were in the region for work, trekking or pilgrimage. Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the government had mobilised all available resources, with international support, for search, rescue, relief and recovery operations, particularly to locate those still missing. “This is currently our national priority,” he told reporters Saturday. He said rescue operations were particularly challenging because of the region’s steep mountains and narrow gorges. Khanal said Nepal had requested specialised assistance from neighbouring countries for tunnel rescue, survivor-detection technology, rapid forensic and DNA analysis and morgue refrigeration facilities. An 11-member tunnel rescue reconnaissance team from India has already been deployed, while a similar team from China is expected to arrive soon, he said. Nepal has received more than 57 metric tons of relief supplies from India, with additional assistance coming from China, Japan, Australia and other countries, according to the minister. Despite severe flood damage in four districts, Khanal said the rest of Nepal remained open and accessible to visitors. “We welcome foreign nationals willing to visit Nepal,” he said.

The death toll from catastrophic flash floods that struck Nepal on Wednesday has risen to 538, while 977 people remain missing, Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said Friday. The authority said 14,829 security personnel have been mobilised for search and rescue operations, while 3,742 people have been rescued so far. The disaster, triggered by a massive collapse of bedrock beneath a glacier in the Himalayan region, unleashed torrents of rock, mud and water that swept away buildings, bridges and roads in parts of Nepal and neighbouring Tibet. Rescue operations continued Friday as helicopters evacuated stranded people and security forces searched for survivors in the hard-hit areas near the Nepal-China border. Nepali police also issued a fresh alert after receiving reports that a dam on the Tibet side had burst, raising fears of further flooding. Authorities had earlier warned residents about a barrier lake that formed after the initial disaster and had begun overflowing. Among those still missing are hundreds of foreign nationals who were in the region for trekking, work or pilgrimages, including trips to the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet. Nepali Army personnel were also working to rescue people trapped inside a hydropower tunnel in Rasuwa, where thick mud and debris complicated efforts to reach survivors. Scientists analysing satellite images said the collapse beneath the glacier caused rocks and melted water to surge into rivers in the valleys below, creating a devastating torrent that swept through settlements in Nepal and Tibet.

The deadly flash flood that swept through parts of Nepal on Wednesday was likely triggered by a massive section of glacier breaking away and temporarily blocking a river, causing a sudden surge of water downstream, scientists said. Researchers are still examining satellite images and ground data to determine exactly how the disaster unfolded. The flood killed hundreds of people and left many others missing, including foreign nationals and pilgrims. The US Geological Survey identified the event as a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse that sent ice, rock and debris downstream with devastating force. Jakob Steiner, a geoscientist at Austria’s University of Graz, said satellite imagery indicated that a large lower section of the glacier had broken away and fallen. Scientists cautioned against directly linking the disaster to climate change at this stage. However, they said rising global temperatures are altering the Hindu Kush Himalaya region and increasing the likelihood of dangerous glacier-related events. Saswat Sanyal, a disaster risk reduction specialist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, said rising temperatures are causing significant changes in the region and accelerating glacier melt. Sudden surge left little time to escape Researchers said water levels in some rivers rose by as much as 9 metres within 30 minutes following the glacier collapse. Preliminary findings suggest a large amount of ice and rock fell into the Lhende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River. The collapse may have displaced water and swept up loose sediment and boulders, creating a powerful debris flow. Scientists are also investigating whether the falling material temporarily blocked the river, allowing water to accumulate before the blockage gave way and intensified the downstream flood. The affected area has experienced other major mountain disasters. A glacial lake flood struck the same valley in 2025, while an ice and rock avalanche hit another part of the region in 2024. Warming increases glacier-related hazards The Hindu Kush Himalaya is warming rapidly, causing major changes to glaciers, snow cover, permafrost and mountain slopes. The region contains more than 63,000 glaciers that supply water to at least 10 major Asian river systems and support the food, water and energy needs of billions of people. Scientists say about 78% of the glacier area between 4,500 and 6,000 metres above sea level is highly exposed to warming. Research by ICIMOD has found that glacier melt across the region has accelerated, with ice-loss rates doubling since 2000. As glaciers retreat, melting ice can enlarge glacial lakes and increase the risk of sudden floods. The loss of ice support can also expose mountain rock to warmer temperatures, rainfall and repeated freezing and thawing, making slopes less stable. Experts warn that a single glacier collapse or avalanche can trigger a chain of events involving debris flows, river blockages and devastating flash floods. Early warning systems crucial Scientists said the latest disaster highlights the need for stronger monitoring and early warning systems across the Himalayas. Steiner said about 10% of Nepal’s power generation capacity is located in the affected valley, underscoring the risks to critical infrastructure. With more than a million tourists visiting Nepal annually in recent years, experts said warning systems should protect both local communities and visitors. However, monitoring thousands of glaciers, steep slopes and river valleys across the Himalayas remains extremely difficult. Sanyal said authorities may have only a few minutes to respond once a chain of mountain hazards begins. Experts called for stronger early warning systems, improved monitoring and faster information sharing among countries in the Himalayan region as climate change continues to make mountain environments increasingly unstable.

Catastrophic floods and mudslides along the Nepal-China border have killed nearly 400 people and left over 1,400 missing, as rescue teams backed by military helicopters searched on Thursday for survivors in communities devastated by a massive surge of water and debris. The disaster struck a day earlier after a glacier collapse triggered a torrent that swept through settlements in Nepal and Tibet, destroying homes, bridges and roads. The number of missing includes hundreds of foreign nationals and pilgrims. Nepalese police reported 389 deaths and more than 460 injuries, while 910 people remained missing in the country. Authorities in Tibet, an autonomous region of China, reported three deaths and 558 missing. Figures from the two sides may not be fully comparable because of differences in how the data were collected and verified. The floods destroyed dozens of bridges and damaged nearly 40 kilometres of roads in Nepal, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach isolated areas. Nepal Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet said the army had rescued more than 100 people by helicopter. Army personnel also evacuated people trapped inside facilities linked to the Trishuli hydropower project. Dozens of injured people were transported to Kathmandu for treatment, while bodies were recovered in Chitwan district, hundreds of kilometres downstream from some of the worst-hit areas. Bishal Kumar Bhandari, chairman of the Nepal Red Cross Society, said the organisation had shifted its focus from rescue operations to large-scale relief efforts. About 1,200 people had been displaced from at least three villages, he said. In Tibet, the mudslide engulfed a multistorey port building and a bus parking area at the Gyirong Port border crossing. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that mud in the surrounding area was more than 1.5 metres deep on average. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Gyirong on Thursday to oversee rescue efforts involving about 500 military and paramilitary personnel. Military helicopters were deployed to search for survivors, assess damage and identify possible evacuation routes. Chinese authorities also warned that a newly formed lake near the confluence of the Tsogyal and Purupqiangzangbu rivers was overflowing and could potentially burst. Foreigners among missing Nepal's Tourism Board said 517 foreigners were among those reported missing, including 178 Indians and more than 60 Americans. Nationals from more than 30 countries were reportedly in the affected areas, including people from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Japan. Many of the missing may have been travelling to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus, Buddhists and followers of other faiths. Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev said 77 members of a pilgrimage group were caught in the floods at an immigration office near the border. The group included 22 Americans and people from several other countries. The US State Department said 90 Americans were unaccounted for in Nepal and China, while three Americans had been rescued. It said it had no information about any US deaths. India's Ministry of External Affairs said 288 Indians, including some workers involved in a power project, were missing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said nearly 100 Chinese nationals were missing in Nepal. He said 260 foreigners were among those reported missing in Tibet. Glacier collapse suspected The US Geological Survey initially reported a magnitude 4.4 earthquake early Wednesday near Nepal's border. It later revised its assessment, saying the event was a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse that sent debris flowing downstream. Climate experts at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu said an avalanche from a glacier likely triggered the flash flood. They said water levels at one point on the Trishuli River rose by as much as 9 metres within 30 minutes. Experts have warned that growing instability in Himalayan glaciers poses increasing risks to communities, infrastructure and water supplies in the densely populated region. The Himalayan region has experienced similar disasters in recent years. In August 2025, a glacial lake in Tibet overflowed amid high temperatures, killing nine people and damaging critical infrastructure, including a bridge linking Nepal and China.

A glacial collapse and massive flash floods along the Nepal-China border have killed at least 165 people and left 961 others missing, including hundreds of foreign tourists and pilgrims, officials said Thursday. China’s media reported that mudslides in Tibet triggered by a glacial collapse killed three people and left 558 missing. Meida noted that 260 of those missing in Tibet are foreigners, while two local villagers have been rescued. In Nepal, police reported at least 162 deaths from Wednesday's thundering torrents, which halted travel in the steep valleys that serve as precarious economic lifelines and travel corridors when disaster strikes. Nepali authorities reported 403 people missing, including 341 foreigners. Sunil Sharma, a tourism board spokesperson, said the missing include 133 Indian pilgrims traveling to Tibet's sacred Mount Kailash, 47 Americans, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 24 Canadians. The U.S. State Department confirmed it is aware of affected Americans. Drone footage showed destroyed roads and buildings buried by thundering, cement-colored water. In Nepal's hard-hit Nuwakot district, mud slathered the second floors of buildings, debris hung from tree branches and wires, vehicles were buried, and stunned survivors were caked in mud. With little time to flee, residents were caught off guard. "When I reached Dhunge bazaar, in half an hour, the flood came and damaged all the market. People were preparing to go to office then," said resident Shoyam Rajbhandari. "How many people are missing or dead, we don’t know."

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of lives caused by devastating floods in Nepal and offered Bangladesh’s support to the Himalayan nation to deal with the crisis. In a post on his Facebook page, the Prime Minister conveyed his deepest condolences to Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah and the people of Nepal on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh. “We stand ready to extend any support that Nepal may need at this time of distress,” Tarique said. He said his thoughts and prayers were with those who lost their lives and their families and loved ones as they bear the immense loss caused by the floods.