Kathmandu: A devastating flash flood and landslide along the Bhote Koshi River near the Nepal-China border has caused widespread destruction, with the latest reports putting the death toll at 150. More than 100 Indian tourists and pilgrims are also among the hundreds of people reported missing.
A massive wall of mud, rocks and debris originating near the Gyirong Port in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region swept into Nepal’s Rasuwa district, engulfing the Timure and Syafrubesi areas within minutes.
Why were so many people in the remote border region?
The affected area is an important gateway for tourists, trekkers and religious pilgrims travelling between Nepal and Tibet.
The period is considered one of the busiest seasons for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, with thousands of pilgrims from India and other countries travelling through the Gyirong border crossing, one of the main routes from Nepal into Tibet.
The popular journey, which begins in Kathmandu and takes around 10 days, attracts large groups of pilgrims and trekkers during the season.
When the flash flood and landslide struck on Wednesday morning, hundreds of people were reportedly either waiting to cross the border or staying in hotels and other accommodation nearby.
Indian tourists caught in the disaster
Vehicles carrying Indian tourists were also travelling along the mountainous border road when the disaster struck.
A Tamil Nadu-based tour operator said his clients were travelling through the remote area in three buses. Several people travelling in these groups are reportedly among those missing.
Rescue teams and local authorities are continuing efforts to locate those missing and assess the full extent of the destruction.
