Nepal yesterday deployed helicopters after a massive flash flood swept away villages in the Himalayan nation, killing eight and damaging roads, bridges and power projects in areas near Tibet, authorities said.Across the border, Tibet reported “major casualties” with some missing in neighboring Gyirong County after a mudslide hit a land crossing between China and Nepal, Xinhua news agency said.The waters were too high for helicopters to land in Nepal’s affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous Rasuwa District, with a population of about 50,000, officials said, while flagging the risk of casualties.
People watch a torrent of muddy water surge through a river after flash floods in Nepal yesterday.
“There could be heavy casualties or loss of property,” Rasuwa Chief District Officer Narendra Pariyar said. “But I cannot say for sure now.”Pariyar urged those living on the banks of the Bhote Koshi River in the area to seek higher ground, pointing to reports that nearby villages and infrastructure project sites were washed away.
“It all came suddenly,” the Onlinekhabar portal quoted a witness from the area as saying. “We heard a loud sound, like a volcano erupting. People started to scream and ran away.”
