New Delhi, Aug 29: Nepal’s devastating flash floods serve as a reminder of the urgent need for regional collaboration, where countries under the shadow of the mighty Himalayas need to adopt a diplomatic narrative that includes ecological security as an important part of relationships, exert reports.

Popular Nepali newspaper Kantipur Friday observed that it is time for Kathmandu to immediately start working on disaster diplomacy and on the agreement with Beijing on its “implementation modality” and “framework”.

Incidentally, China and Nepal had agreed to share cross-border real-time information on floods and landslides and flag potential risks of glacial lake outburst floods. However, no formal agreement has been signed yet to implement such a mechanism despite Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal having raised the issue during his China visit in May.

Such reports emphasised the need for sharing information and cooperation in disaster reduction, where long-term risks should be taken into account in the construction of strategic structures such as roads, bridges, and hydropower projects near international borders.

Parliamentarians from across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region too had insisted on Wednesday, as news of the devastation emerged, that the tragedy underscored the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation to address climate risks that transcend national boundaries.

They were meeting for the two-day 2nd Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Meet in Thimphu, where a moment of silence for the victims and their families was also observed, according to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), an intergovernmental knowledge and learning centre working on behalf of the people of the HKH.

Participants said the disaster highlighted the importance of collective action, stronger preparedness, and sustained regional cooperation to reduce climate-related risks and build resilience across the HKH region. ICIMOD is based in Kathmandu, and works in and for eight regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. The body later examined satellite imagery and concluded that “a massive rock–ice avalanche occurred in Nepal, blocking the Lhende River and triggering cascading floods downstream”.

Their assessment pointed not to tectonic activity but to glacial instability, a phenomenon increasingly linked to climate change. This was corroborated by the US Geological Survey (USGS), which earlier took the tremor as an earthquake.

In a revised statement, the USGS stated that additional analysis of seismic waves and satellite imagery led to the determination that the seismic event was rather a glacial collapse and debris flow, and that no earthquake had occurred. Global warming and construction in nearby areas are largely being seen as the reason for the avalanche, though the actual reason may take some time to be identified, pointed reports.

Some experts compared such glaciers on mountains to cement that helps hold a building together. Mongabay, a US-based non-profit conservation and environmental science news platform, also said that the floods were triggered by a glacier collapse and landslide into a river on the Tibet-Nepal border.

Like other reports, it assumed climate change had loosened the ice “till the entire mountainside, including a glacier clinging to it, collapsed into the river flowing some 3,000 metres below”.

Pointing out that no early warning system would have helped those who were close downstream when the huge chunk and debris fell on Wednesday, the article stated that one way to manage this risk is to be able to predict such a disaster with a credible probability level, so that governments can take protective action. This, it emphasised, would need countries to comprehensively map all icebound slopes above a certain gradient. In the face of such reports, the HKH countries would need to step up research, share data, and coordinate seamlessly to be prepared for such calamities.

New Delhi, Aug 29: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday stated that four more Indian nationals were rescued from a hydropower project in Nepal’s Rasuwa, bringing the total number of rescued Indian nationals to 88.

The ministry confirmed that the rescued individuals are Ripu Kumar, Chaneshwar Narzary, Kripa Shankar and Mohammed Minhajuddin.

The MEA also stated that 120 Indian nationals crossed into Nepal from China on Saturday.

It mentioned that 287 Indian nationals still remain missing and 128 persons of Indian origin also remain missing as of 5 pm on Saturday.

A six-member forensic experts team from India is expected to reach Kathmandu on Saturday to assist in the analysis of DNA samples for identification of mortal remains.

“A specialised technical team for tunnel rescue reconnaissance reached Kathmandu yesterday and started working from today to assist in tunnel rescue in the impacted area. Based on their recommendation, a specialised tunnel rescue team from India with equipment is expected to reach Nepal today,” MEA stated.

Meanwhile, Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Saturday expressed gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu for her concern and the support extended by the government of India following the devastating flash floods in Nepal that left hundreds dead and caused widespread destruction.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Nepal, I extend our deepest gratitude to Your Excellency Smt Droupadi Murmu for your kind concern and also for the generous support and solidarity extended by your government following the recent calamity in Nepal,” the Office of the President of Nepal posted on X.

Paudel also conveyed condolences over the tragic loss of Indian lives in the aftermath of the catastrophic flood on Wednesday.

“We also offer our heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to the Government and the people of India for the tragic loss of Indian lives in the disaster of August 26, 2026,” he stated.

New Delhi, Aug 29: A slew of Opposition leaders lauded the efforts of government in bringing back stranded Indians in Nepal following the devastating natural disaster and urged the Centre to act in ‘mission mode,’ deploy all available resources to trace the missing citizens and ensure their safe return.

Speaking to media, JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey said the number of casualties could be much higher than currently reported, based on unconfirmed information.

“The number appears to be very high, based on the unconfirmed reports coming in. I believe it could cross into the thousands. There is still no information about many people from our country, including tourists and pilgrims who had travelled to Mansarovar. This is a massive disaster, and I believe the Central Government is not doing enough to provide relief to our people. The government should act in mission mode, deploy its resources, search for our citizens, ascertain their safety and ensure that they are brought out safely,” he said.

Congress media in-charge Rakesh Sinha described the natural disaster in Nepal as extremely devastating and expressed solidarity with the people of the neighbouring country.

“The natural disaster that has struck Nepal is extremely devastating. Our condolences are with all the people of Nepal. We also urge the Government of India to act swiftly to locate the Indian people who have gone missing in this devastating tragedy and extend support to the people of Nepal. The Government of India should act on this issue with utmost seriousness,” Sinha said.

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy termed the incident serious and highlighted the scale of the disaster.

“It is a very serious incident. There are 2,482 people missing, including 320 Indians. Around 584 people have lost their lives in Nepal. The Indian government has sent three planes carrying relief materials. This is a good effort,” he said.

RLM MP Upendra Kushwaha called the incident extremely unfortunate and expressed grief over the loss of lives.

“This is a very unfortunate incident. It is a natural disaster, and humans cannot control nature. We express our grief over this incident. We pray to God that the departed souls rest in peace and give strength to their families to bear this immense loss,” he said.

BJP Uttar Pradesh president Pankaj Chaudhary said the tragedy was heart-wrenching and assured that India would continue to support Nepal.

“The incident that took place in Nepal is heart-wrenching for all of us. We all stand with the people affected by it. As a good neighbour, the Indian government sent help. The government will continue to provide assistance in the future,” Chaudhary said.

Bihar Minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary said the disaster underlined the need for stronger preparedness and long-term planning to minimise the impact of natural calamities.

“It is a very tragic incident. But what is important is that we need to work on how we can better prepare ourselves and prevent the impact of natural calamities. Nepal is a very fragile country. As far as I can remember, over the past three or four years, Nepal has repeatedly faced one disaster or another. India is already doing its part to help, but other countries should also come forward and work together on how we can protect Nepal,” he said.

Union MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh sais, “On the day this very tragic incident occurred, our mission immediately started a 24-hour helpline and provided a helpline number so that we could keep a watch and monitor where what was happening, where anything was needed, especially, and also get information about our Indian citizens who were stranded there or were present there, and address any difficulties they were facing.”