Bhotekoshi-Trishuli Flood: Who Are the Missing and Why Are Hundreds of Tourists Affected?
Image credit, Reuters
A group of 55 people managed by Leaf Holidays Pvt. Ltd., who had traveled on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage in Tibet, were in contact with their Kathmandu office until Wednesday morning.
They reached the Nepal-China border the previous evening and were lining up early in the morning for immigration processing.
“Nepal’s immigration opens at 7 a.m., and the other side opens at 9 a.m.,” said company managing director Gopal Thapa. “My nephew was also part of that group. In our last contact, they had crossed Nepal’s immigration and were waiting in line on the other side.”
“After that, we lost all contact.”
In search of his nephew and clients, Thapa took a helicopter to the area on Wednesday afternoon. “But seeing the situation there, my heart sank. There was no sign of hope.”
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has so far reported 977 people missing.
“This includes local residents, tourists, and security personnel,” said spokesperson Shanti Mahat.
Number of Missing May Increase
Image credit, EPA
Although the official list of missing mainly lists tourists sent to the area in an organized manner, those who have traveled to the region have said that over time, local residents are likely the largest group among the missing.
“The current figures of missing do not fully represent the true situation of the area and do not capture the extensive participation of locals affected by the floods,” said Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Association of Nepal (TAN), who visited the upper flood-affected areas of Rasuwa on Wednesday.
“The missing includes many indigenous and foreign tourists, government officials, security personnel, transport workers, hydropower and road construction workers, and local residents.”
Local authorities have also acknowledged that the number of missing could significantly rise.
“Areas with dense populations like Syapru-Bensi and Timure in Rasuwa are severely affected, which may explain the rising figures,” said Druv Prasad Adhikari, Assistant Chief District Officer of Rasuwa District Administration Office.
Why Were So Many Tourists Affected?
Experts say that tourism and economic activities in the flood-affected areas have been in crisis since last year’s floods.
Last year in Ashad month (June-July), a massive flood in Rasuwa caused extensive damage to life and property. Studies indicated a glacial lake outburst flood occurred in the upper watershed area of the Lende River.
“Since the routes have only recently reopened, tourists had started moving actively, with many embarking on the Kailash Mansarovar journey,” said Thapa of Leaf Holidays.
According to government figures, a large portion of the missing individuals are tourists.
Tourists travel from Dhunche to Tibet’s Mansarovar, Gosainkunda, and Langtang areas. As the rainy season ended in Ashwin (September-October), many tourists headed that way, anticipating dry weather. Additionally, a significant number of pilgrims head to Gosainkunda during the Janai Purnima festival.
“However, we do not have precise figures on the number of tourists going to Langtang and Gosainkunda or those affected on those routes. As per statistics from tour operators for Mansarovar trips up to Thursday afternoon, 668 people are reported missing, of which 127 are Nepali,” said Hikmat Air, acting CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board.
Large Numbers of Transport and Hydropower Workers Missing
Officials from the Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs Federation have reported that a large number of transport workers and traders also remain missing after Wednesday’s floods.
According to federation president Saroj Sitoula, based on data from various committees, approximately 300 passenger buses and around 800 other vehicles are missing.
“Many of our office bearers themselves are among the missing, so it is difficult to estimate how many individuals from the transport sector are lost,” he said.
“We also have no information on how many passengers were onboard the missing buses.”
Workers involved with small and large hydropower projects in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli area are also believed to have been heavily impacted. Recent figures from the Ministry of Energy indicate that 184 employees from various hydropower projects are missing.
“We have received information that around 15 hydropower projects in the area were affected, including seven under construction and the rest operational,” explained Ganesh Karki, former president of the Independent Power Producers Association Nepal (IPPAN). “There were not many active operational projects, but construction sites had many workers.”
“Rescue operations are ongoing continuously.”