India Dispatches Aid to Nepal as Border Floods Leave Hundreds Missing

India has stepped up emergency aid and established diplomatic helplines after devastating flash floods hit the border region between Nepal and Tibet, leaving at least 165 people dead and more than 1,300 missing across both territories.

The disaster unfolded on Wednesday when an avalanche reportedly blocked a tributary feeding into the Bhotekoshi river. The blockage caused a sudden outburst that sent fast-moving torrents of mud and debris surging downstream, washing away whole villages, properties, and dozens of people within minutes. Verified video footage captured massive surges of debris-filled water engulfing structures along the riverbank. Nepali police officials confirmed the current death toll and stated that they expect casualty figures to increase as search teams reach remote sites.

Discrepancies exist among officials regarding the exact number of missing Indian nationals involved in the disaster. Nepali police and tourism authorities reported on Thursday that 177 Indians were missing out of a total of 800 missing foreign tourists. However, speaking to journalists at the Anviksha Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal stated that “close to 300 Indians have been reported missing” as authorities attempt to establish contact with them. Khanal noted that many were travelers taking the route for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. Separately, initial news reports cited that more than 130 Indians were unaccounted for, while individual state governments within India reported that dozens of their local residents remained missing.

To assist with the disaster response, India dispatched a second military shipment of relief supplies to Nepal on Thursday. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar confirmed the flight in a social media update, noting that the aircraft was carrying 37.5 metric tonnes of humanitarian assistance, disaster relief equipment, medicines, and food packets. This followed an initial shipment of 10 metric tonnes of emergency supplies delivered on Wednesday.

Despite the air shipments, India has not yet deployed ground rescue personnel across the border. At a press conference on Thursday morning, Narendra Singh Bundela, an inspector general with India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), clarified that no specialized teams had been sent into Nepal so far. Bundela stated that rescue units remain on standby until a formal request is made by Nepal’s government and approved by Indian authorities.

Diplomatic coordination between the two nations remains active. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke directly with Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Wednesday to express condolences and pledge support, stating online that “India is prepared to provide Nepal with all possible types of humanitarian assistance.” Additionally, Indian embassies in both Nepal and China have activated emergency helplines to assist families attempting to trace missing individuals.

Background

The high-altitude border region between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China is a primary transit route for travelers undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet that is considered sacred by Hindus and Buddhists. Mountainous river valleys in northern Nepal, such as the Bhotekoshi corridor, are highly susceptible to sudden hydrological disasters triggered by avalanches, landslides, or glacial blockages affecting high-altitude river tributaries.