Nepal Floods: Death Toll Reaches 469 Amid Rescue Efforts

The death toll from a devastating flash flood in Nepal's Rasuwa district has reached at least 469, with nearly 1,000 individuals still unaccounted for. The disaster was caused by the collapse of a glacier near Langtang Lirung, which triggered a torrent of water, mud, and debris along the Lhende Khola and Bhote Koshi river systems.

The flooding has resulted in the destruction of villages, roads, bridges, homes, and hydropower installations, significantly affecting the Rasuwagadhi border area with Tibet. Rescue operations, involving helicopters, soldiers, and police, have been hindered by damaged roads and dangerous water levels.

A landslide-dammed lake, accumulating over 2.5 million cubic meters of water, has begun overflowing, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend rescue efforts and evacuate vulnerable residents. Nepal's Energy Ministry reported that approximately 430 megawatts of electricity supply has been disrupted due to damage to hydropower projects, representing over 12% of the country's electricity capacity.