Survivors of deadly flash floods in the Himalayan valleys of Nepal and Tibet are returning to the remains of their homes, as the death toll reaches 797 and rising waters force fresh evacuations in Devighat.
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Key facts
- The death toll from the floods across Nepal and Tibet stood at 797 by Sunday.
- Bodies continue to wash up, with morgues already out of room.
- The Trishuli River has swelled again, forcing residents of Devighat to flee to higher ground.
- Thick, tar-like mud engulfed everything after the flood waters receded.
People in the Nepali settlement of Devighat, on the banks of the Trishuli River, are returning to find little left of their homes after deadly flash floods swept through the Himalayan valleys of Nepal and Tibet, according to the Guardian.
The disaster has claimed a rising number of lives. By Sunday, the death toll across Nepal and Tibet stood at 797, and it has continued to climb as more victims are found.
Bodies have surfaced in their hundreds and continue to be pulled from the thick, tar-like mud that engulfed everything after the flood waters receded. The scale of the loss has overwhelmed local facilities, with the Guardian reporting that morgues have already run out of room.
The precariousness of life beside the Trishuli River has been underlined once more as the waters swell again. Residents who had returned to survey the damage have been forced to flee to higher ground amid the renewed threat.
The situation in Devighat illustrates the ongoing danger faced by communities living close to the river, where the immediate destruction has been compounded by the risk of further flooding.
Why it matters
The floods rank among the deadliest recent disasters in the region, with a death toll approaching 800 and continuing to rise. The renewed swelling of the Trishuli River shows that survivors remain at risk even as they try to recover, highlighting the vulnerability of communities living in Himalayan river valleys.
Frequently asked questions
How many people have died in the Nepal and Tibet floods?
According to the Guardian, the death toll stood at 797 across Nepal and Tibet by Sunday, and it has continued to rise as more bodies are found.
Why are residents of Devighat fleeing again?
The waters of the Trishuli River have swelled again, forcing residents who returned to survey their damaged homes to flee to higher ground.
What condition are the affected areas in?
The Guardian reports that thick, tar-like mud engulfed everything after the flood waters receded, and morgues have run out of room for the bodies being recovered.
Timeline
- People return to their flood-ravaged homes in Nepal
Al Jazeera: Survivors in Nepal’s Nuwakot district are digging through mud and debris for belongings left behind by flash floods.
- ‘The river has taken everything’: people return to remains of their homes in Nepal
The Guardian World: Precariousness of living in Devighat by the Trishuli River underlined as waters swell again and residents flee to higher ground Nepal-Tibet flash flood – latest updates The bodies continue to wash up. But the morgues have already run out of room. Since the deadly floods coursed t