Col Alok Mathur, SM (Veteran)
On 26 August, 2026, at 8.20 in the morning, as per Nepal standard time, the inhabitants of Gyirong (Tibet) and Rasuwagadhi (Nepal), experienced a mild tremor of earthquake followed by another severe tremor of 5.2 magnitude. There was panic on both sides. Suddenly, at 8.40 AM, a flash flood got triggered leading to water with sand and mud, roaring at full speed towards the Bhotekoshi (Trishuli) River. The water level, earlier at about 5 feet rose to 13 feet by 9.20 AM. The speed of the rolling down muddy water and debris was 180 km per hour as recorded by CCTVs of Gyirong. The amalgamated sludge and debris travelled downhill 20 kms in 12 minutes. The houses, shops, school and bridges suddenly disappeared from the landscape. Thousands of villagers, tourists, Port officials, Border Guards were buried alive. A few of the decomposed bodies were found down in Narayani River 200 kms away after 48 hours.
The origin of the flash flood, as identified with the help of satellite imagery, is at a glaciated lake at Langtang Lirung in the Tibet Himalayan region which busted due to tremors and flowed down rapidly through a narrow gorge to reached Bhotekoshi River neat Gyitori and further down to Rauwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahun, Nawaparasi to Chitwan district towns creating havoc along the riverside.
There is a gloom across Nepal and Tibet. The death toll taken by the floods has crossed the 2000 mark while several thousand continue to be missing. The casualty list includes foreigners, Tibetans and even Indian nationals apart from the Nepalese who have taken the biggest brunt. The casualty data is increasing by the day.
Prime Minister Balen Shah has appealed to world for the help in the hour of crisis. The council of ministers of Nepal has declared the area as a Disaster Zone under their Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2014 and offered free medical treatment and relief compensation. But situation is very difficult indeed, almost control.
India, as always, was one of the first responders and within 48 hours, two C 130 J Hercules with 40 tonnes of relief material landed at Kathmandu along with medical and rescue teams, Indian Teams established a special laboratory to test DNA of victims for identification of decomposed remains. Two more IAF C 17 Globe Master Cargo planes with full load of additional 20 tons of relief materials including medicines, tents and 5 Bailey bridges landed at Kathmandu Airport. The fifth IAF transport aircraft carried additional 20 tons of relief material and special rescue equipment. The Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Shrivastva has informed that Indian specialised team, in coordination with Nepal Army, have reached tunnel mouths at Chilime and Langtong sites. Positive news of survivors is awaited.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the Nepalese PM that all the assistance will be provided on priority. Indian Army Chief General Dheeraj Seth, who was recently conferred with rank of General in the Nepalese Army by the President of Nepal, has promised all the help from Indian Army in terms of repair and installation of Bridges, Field Hospitals with operation theatres and rescue teams. India is meeting specific requirements made by the Nepalese government like 42 Bailey bridges to establish connectivity on both banks of the Bhotekoshi River since all bridges have been washed away. The cause of worry for India is the Indian citizens who are still missing. The Ministry of External Affairs is monitoring their situation through a special office opened in Kathmandu for the purpose.
Nepal has mobilised 10,000 troops of its army for the massive rescue. They evacuated 350 workers trapped in the Rasuwa hydel project tunnel, which provided a safe zone for the fortunate workers. The search for other 600 workers trapped in various tunnel sites Trishuli 3A and Trishuli 3B is in progress. Indian rescue teams are also working in coordination with the Nepalese rescue organisation.
China has mobilised PLA troops from Sichuan province on directions of Xi Jinping, Chairman of Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Gyirong dry port has commenced search and relief missions with the help of inflatable boats, drones and helicopters. Chinese Rescue Teams have also reached core disaster site from the North since 28 August along with 150 Vehicles, sniffer dogs, speed boats etc. They have evacuated more than 500 tourists to safe areas. There is a motor-able road from Gyrong town county to Rasuwa border but now in bad shape; the bridge has also been washed away, but PLA has installed a Bailey bridge and is doing whatever is possible. It will also establish flood warning and monitoring system assisted by satellites. Pakistan and Bangladesh have also sent relief teams to Nepal.
Help is also coming from the US and EU and other areas across the world. Australia has donated 2 million dollars for relief work; Canada has provided 5-million-dollars for relief missions. Ireland has donated 5 million Euros. Malaysia has offered one million dollars as relief fund. Singapore has provided 1 million dollars. UAE donated 10 million US dollars. UK 5 million pounds. USA 5 million dollars. Vietnam, Iran have conveyed condolences to Nepal for victims and dead. WHO, Red Cross and Red Crescent teams are operating medical camps.
As mentioned above, the origin of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) or the Flash flood was at the Lende River (Donglin Tsangpo) at Langtang Lirung National Park area in Gyirong county of TAR border area. Lende river further down merges with the Trishuli River system. There was a heavy flash flood in same area in 2015 also.
The present site of disaster at the Nepal-Tibet border crossing at Gyirong land port and Rasuwa post of Nepal is a strategic border crossing for trade and tourism. It is an important transit point for Holy Mount Kailash on Man Sarovar Lake site, which is worshipped by Hindus, Buddhists, Jain and Bon Pilgrims.
Hundreds of pilgrimages and tourist visit the holy site from this route. There is huge immigration check post complex at the junction of the two rivers with a concrete bridge now replaced by a Bailey bridge. The satellite imagery of 2005 and 2011 show that entire confluence area was devoid of any concrete structure but had Tin sheds and there was no bridge also.
China built a friendship motorable road and bridge in 2015 called Pasang-Lhamu highway (Trishuli Highway) which made the Kailash holy visit more comfortable for Pilgrims and tourists. It also boosted trade between Nepal and Tibet.
Since 1900, several times flash floods and mud slides had been occurring in this region taking heavy toll of local villagers of the region but route was restored and trade relations continued. Trishuli River flows down and joins Narayani River and enters India 240 kms away in the Gangetic river system. The area is on the Northern side of Kathmandu in Central Nepal.
The cause of present deluge is under investigation but, as indicated earlier, collapse of a part of the Glacier in narrow gorge in Langtang regio and accumulation of lakhs of gallons of Ice and water seem to have triggered the same. The seismic quake possibly burst the glacial lake and millions of cubic metres of water with mud and debris rushed down the sharp gradient and caused devastation.
Even though the rescue and search mission are continuing on a war footing the inhospitable terrain, sludge and loose mud all over are posing deep challenges. The situation is Himalayan Kingdom is bad and beyond control of Nepalese government although it is doing its best at this moment. In coming days, India and China will need to enhance the process, possibly with joint deployment of its human and technical resources in terms of medical teams, rescue teams, specialised teams for tunnel rescue, dozers, boats, bridging equipment, underground bodies detection teams, helicopters, drones etc. The process will be difficult and long drawn.
Meanwhile, all such potential water bombs sites in the Himalayas need to be identified through satellite imagery all along Indo Tibet border and kept under watch. Joint Monitoring units must give adequate warning for residents in danger zones and prevent loss of human lives and property. We must respect nature and should not block the water flow area by choking with concrete structures on natural banks.
May rescue teams locate the trapped hydel workers fast and all nations join hands and help Nepal as per Indian philosophy Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is one family)