Nearly 500 Dead as Nepal Leads Its Own Flood Rescue
Kathmandu: Nepal has said it does not currently need foreign search-and-rescue assistance after devastating flash floods swept through several towns, killing nearly 500 people and leaving hundreds, including foreign nationals, missing.
The disaster struck several areas, including the Rasuwa district near the Chinese border. Powerful floodwaters destroyed entire settlements, damaged hydropower projects and forced many people to flee. Rescue workers continue searching for survivors and those still missing, as reported by NDTV.
Several countries have offered to send rescue teams, particularly because their citizens were working or travelling in the affected areas. South Korea said nine of its nationals working at a hydropower plant were missing, while 10 others were stranded.
However, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry said the country’s own security agencies were handling the search-and-rescue operation.
“The offer for help is natural. Our security agencies are doing the search and rescue operation. For now, we don’t require such help,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Nepal had indicated that it was not yet ready to accept foreign rescue teams. Seoul said it would continue discussions with Nepal and had pledged $1 million in humanitarian assistance through international organisations.
According to reports, countries including India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have also offered assistance.
Some observers suggested Nepal’s decision could be linked to the sensitive location of Rasuwa, which borders China’s Tibet region. A former Nepali ambassador said the area’s strategic importance may have influenced the government’s thinking.
But Nepal’s Foreign Ministry denied this, insisting that the decision was based simply on the ability of its own rescue teams to manage the operation.
As the search continues, the scale of the tragedy remains clear: devastated communities are waiting for answers while hundreds of families still hope for news of their loved ones.
