Updates: Nepal flash flood toll rises to 472, MEA says 290 Indians still missing

The toll in the flash flood and mudslide in Nepal increased to 472 on Friday as rescue personnel halted operations, citing risks of renewed flooding caused by the bursting of a debris dam, AFP reported.

More than 1,400 persons are missing, the news agency reported.

The Ministry of External Affairs said 290 Indians in Nepal are still not contactable, while about 200 Indians stranded on the Chinese side after the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have sought assistance, The Indian Express reported.

The floods occurred in the Rasuwa district along Nepal’s northern border with China on Wednesday. The mountainous district is located about 120 km north of Kathmandu. As there was no rainfall in the area, residents did not have a warning about the deluge.

Here’s more on this and other top updates:

• Nepal and China warned of further flooding as barrier lakes formed by debris on both sides of their border threaten to burst, Reuters reported. Nepal’s disaster authority urged residents, passengers and rescuers to stay away from river banks, while China warned that about 3 million cubic metres of water could flow into a dammed lake over the next three days.
• The Nepali Army rescued 350 workers and locals who were trapped in a tunnel in a hydropower project, The Guardian reported. The army was still working to rescue over 100...

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