A New York doctor has issued an appeal for her parents, Ramesh, 65, and Neelam, 64, who are among over 60 Americans reported missing following severe flash flooding in Nepal that has resulted in at least 165 fatalities. Radhika Sharma stated that she has not heard from her parents since they crossed the Nepal-China border at 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday, shortly before the floods occurred. She described the situation as the worst 24 hours of her life and has sought assistance through social media to locate them.
Sharma has connected with individuals in Nepal to aid her search. She posted on X, urging anyone with contacts in Nepal, Gyirong/Tibet, local hospitals, or rescue operations to reach out to her.
The floods, which struck around 8:40 a.m. local time, have left 165 people dead and 826 missing in Nepal. In Tibet, three fatalities have been reported, with 558 individuals unaccounted for. Authorities confirmed that 644 foreign nationals are missing, including 65 from the United States and 178 tourists from India.
Nepal’s foreign minister, Shisir Khanal, informed parliament that initial reports indicated the floods may have been caused by an avalanche triggered by an earthquake. However, the US Geological Survey later confirmed that no earthquake occurred, and it is now believed that a glacier collapse caused the flooding.
A large chunk of ice fell from a height of approximately 17,000 feet, triggering an ice avalanche that impacted the Lhende River, leading to a blockage that eventually gave way. The flooding resulted in the destruction of around 25 miles of roads and 19 bridges, with water levels on the Trishuli River rising by 27 feet in half an hour.
The United Nations reported that around 10,000 homes require immediate relief, and there has been a significant international response. The US is sending a disaster response adviser and has allocated $500,000 in assistance for emergency shelter and relief items. The State Department expressed condolences to the families affected by the disaster.
India has contributed over 22,000 pounds of disaster-relief supplies, while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has set aside approximately $1.24 million in funding. EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen stated that the EU is prepared to mobilize further assistance.