Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority confirmed on Saturday (August 29) that 626 fatalities from catastrophic flooding had been recorded, while nearly 2,500 individuals remain missing. A British rapid response team is expected to reach Kathmandu later on Saturday to assist British citizens and their relatives, 33 of whom are unaccounted for.
Helicopter rescue operations have been grounded due to adverse weather conditions, hindering attempts to locate survivors, according to Nepal Army spokesman Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet. Chinese state media reported seven deaths and 554 missing persons in Tibet.
UK Response and Rescue Efforts
The specialist team, comprising expertly trained crisis response personnel, will collaborate with the British embassy and local officials. They will assist in coordinating support for British citizens arriving at and leaving the airport, aid those searching for information about missing family members, work alongside local authorities and emergency services, and bolster existing consular services in the area.
As part of the UK's broader response, which encompasses £5 million in humanitarian aid for relief and recovery operations, the team will also collaborate with families in the UK who are worried about relatives in the disaster zone.
Rescue Operations at Hydropower Site
Mr Basnet revealed that rescue operations were ongoing at a hydropower construction facility, where over 100 individuals are thought to be trapped within a mud-filled tunnel. Recovery efforts had been hindered by concerns about additional flooding from a lake created by the glacier collapse that triggered Wednesday's deluge.
China's Ministry of Water Resources reported that water levels had fallen by 10 metres between Thursday morning and Friday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Officials Comment on Devastation
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband commented: "The scenes from Nepal are devastating, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected. The safety and welfare of British nationals is our top priority. That is why we are deploying a Rapid Deployment Team to Nepal to provide additional support on the ground for British nationals and their families at what is an incredibly difficult time. Our staff are working closely with the Nepali authorities, emergency responders and our embassy in Kathmandu to ensure those affected can access the assistance and information they need. We will continue to do everything we can to support British nationals impacted by this tragedy."
Amongst the 33 British citizens feared missing are two youngsters - a 13 year old girl and a 14 year old boy. Essex-based nurse Rajendra Pudasaini, who heads the Non-Resident Nepali Association UK, revealed his family members were "swept away" by the devastating floods while launching a charitable appeal for disaster victims. Speaking to the Press Association, he declared Nepal was experiencing an "irreplaceable loss" and the nation was "paying the price for global warming".
Villages Wiped Out and Pilgrims Missing
Bishal Nath Upreti, who leads the Nepal Centre for Disaster Management, likened the catastrophic scenes to a "tsunami from the sky" and reported that entire villages had been "completely wiped out". Officials from Nepal confirmed that bridges have been obliterated and approximately 25 miles of roadways have sustained damage, severely hampering rescue operations.
Several of those missing had been undertaking a pilgrimage to the revered Hindu destination of Mount Kailash, according to Nepalese tour operator The Trekkers' Society. The company confirmed that nine British nationals from one of its expeditions to the sacred site remain unaccounted for: four males, aged 14, 50, 50 and 54, and five women, aged 40, 46, 50, 50 and 53.
Travel records secured by PA reveal that three men aged 65, 64 and 52, alongside seven women aged 44, 47, 51, 60, 63, 63 and 65, are also amongst the missing British citizens. Meanwhile, tour operator Kailash Journeys confirmed it had lost contact with seven UK nationals: five women and two men aged between 18 and 55, who were travelling under their arrangements.
The UK's £5 million aid package will bolster Nepal's relief operations, encompassing a mix of UN, Red Cross and NGO initiatives. The FCDO advised: "British nationals in Nepal should follow local authority advice and exercise caution while travelling. For consular assistance call (+44) (0)207 008 5000 or (+977) (0)14237100."
