A massive flood fury ravaged Nepal on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 95 people, while many others, including 105 Indian nationals, are missing after torrential waters swept through the country’s Rasuva district, which lies in close proximity to the Tibet border. According to reports, the floods have left behind a trail of destruction, damaging roads, bridges and power projects in the mountainous region.

Besides this, concerns have risen across the border, as the authorities in India’s Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar have been placed on high alert due to fears that rising river levels could affect areas downstream.

Rising water levels hamper rescue operations

Authorities in Nepal deployed helicopters to rescue people stranded by the floods. However, rescue efforts were dealt a major blow as water levels remained too high for helicopters to land in Syapru Besi and Timure in Rasuwa district, according to officials.

District administrator Narendra Pariyar sounded a warning of potentially heavy casualties and damage to property. He also urged the residents living along the Bhote Koshi River to move to safer and elevated levels.

Several reports suggested that nearby villages and infrastructure project sites had been washed away.

Flood waters gushing through the streets of Rasuwa district

Nepal Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah said Nepal’s police and military personnel had been pressed into rescue operations. As per authorities, they have appealed to residents living in low-lying areas to relocate to safer locations and urged people living near rivers to keep a tab on the situation.

NDRF deploys 20 teams in UP, Bihar

Meanwhile, the rapidly deteriorating situation has prompted heightened preparedness in India. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said it had been monitoring areas of UP and Bihar bordering Nepal.

In its latest update, the force said 20 teams had been deployed for flood rescue operations across both the states. Nine NDRF teams, as per officials, had already been stationed in Bihar.

The alert came after reports of a sudden rise in the Trishuli River at Furke Khila in Nepal, which lies 160 kilometres away from India’s border. As per the Central Water Commission (CWC), the surge in water levels is suspected to be linked to glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) activity near the China-Nepal border.

The NDRF cautioned that the resulting flood wave could travel downstream into the Gandak River, owing to which the border areas of Bihar and UP could be affected.