Table of Contents
Rescue Operations Underway Amid Rising Death Toll
Nepal authorities have rescued 117 tourists following severe flooding in the country, including 85 Indians, 16 Chinese, nine South Koreans, two Italians, and two US nationals, according to a Tourism Ministry source . The death toll has reached 469, Nepal police said on Friday .
Authorities are monitoring two lakes upstream of the flood-affected area, one of which began overflowing on Friday, a Disaster Management Authority official said . The official said authorities were relying on satellite imagery to monitor conditions, although their ability to track developments remained limited by the availability of updated images. Flood risks are expected to persist until both lakes have fully drained.
Nepal Declines Foreign Rescue Teams
Nepal has declined offers from several countries to send search-and-rescue teams following the devastating flash floods, saying its own security agencies are capable of handling the ongoing operation . Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said it was managing rescue efforts and did not currently require international assistance .
According to Nepal’s Kathmandu Post, India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have approached Kathmandu seeking permission to deploy search-and-rescue teams . South Korea said Nepal had indicated it was not yet prepared to accept foreign teams but would continue discussions. South Korea has pledged $1 million in humanitarian assistance .
Regional Sensitivity and Response
Dinesh Bhattarai, a former Nepali ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, suggested that the location of Rasuwa, which borders China’s Tibet region, could have influenced the decision not to accept foreign teams. However, ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri rejected the suggestion, saying Nepal’s decision was unrelated to Chinese sensitivities and was based on its assessment that domestic rescue agencies could manage the operation
