KATHMANDU: Nepal authorities on August 30 issued a fresh safety warning after a sudden increase in the sound and flow of the Bhote Koshi River, days after devastating flash floods killed hundreds in the region.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) urged residents living near the river, along with relief and emergency teams, to remain alert. The warning covers Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts, which were affected by the August 26 flash floods.
Residents near the Rasuwa riverbank, including areas close to the Nepal-China border, were advised to monitor the river closely and remain prepared for changing conditions.
The NDRRMA said it received information from the District Administration Office in Rasuwa about an increase in the sound of floodwater in the Bhote Koshi and urged caution in areas around the river in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.
The latest warning came as Nepal continued search and rescue operations following the floods, with the death toll rising to 675, according to the NDRRMA. As of 6.30 pm, 2,418 people remained missing or out of contact, including 287 Indian nationals and 128 Persons of Indian Origin.
The Ministry of External Affairs said four Indian nationals stranded at a hydropower project in Rasuwa were rescued on Saturday. Ripu Kumar, Chaneshwar Narzary, Kripa Shankar and Mohammed Minhajuddin were being taken to Kathmandu.
The MEA said 88 Indian nationals had so far been rescued from flood-hit areas. Another 120 Indian nationals had earlier crossed into Nepal from China, it said.
