India Sends 60 Tonnes of Aid as Nepal Floods Kill Hundreds

Catastrophic flash floods triggered by an avalanche on a transboundary river between Nepal and China struck the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems on August 26. The disaster caused widespread destruction of settlements and hydropower infrastructure, killing at least 543 people. While early reports cited 469 to 475 recovered bodies, updated figures from Nepal's disaster management authority place the death toll at 538 within its borders, with 977 people still missing. Chinese state media reported five deaths and 558 missing in Gyirong County.

Subramanyam Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, designated the relief operations a highest priority. The Ministry of External Affairs coordinated three relief flights between August 26 and August 28, delivering approximately 60 tonnes of emergency supplies, including medical kits, generators, and food. India is also deploying a medical team, a recce team for tunnel rescue operations, and Bailey bridges to restore connectivity.

Simultaneously, the Indian government is coordinating the evacuation of approximately 400 Indian citizens stranded in China due to landslide-damaged roads. In Nepal, Prime Minister Balendra Shah and his cabinet donated one month of their salaries to a disaster relief fund and approved the purchase of 25,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizer from India. Authorities remain on high alert after a barrier lake breached on Friday, prompting new evacuations in the Trishuli area.