Rescuers Battle Mud, Floods to Find 3,000+ Missing After Himalayan Glacial Collapse

A massive glacial collapse on the China‑India border on Wednesday left more than 3,000 people missing and at least 750 confirmed dead, according to the latest figures from Nepal and China. The flood, triggered by the sudden rupture of a glacier on the southern slope of Lirung Peak, sent a wall of ice, rock, and mud downstream, wiping out entire villages along the Trishuli River and flooding the Gyirong Port in Tibet.

The disaster unfolded at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric site, where Nepali army troops and engineers are searching for workers trapped in a tunnel. Nepali Home Minister Sudan Gurung said rescuers had inserted a pipe into the passage and were “starting to send air through the small opening.” Despite these efforts, rising river levels and relentless mud have hampered progress, prompting Nepal’s disaster authorities to urge caution.

In the wake of the flood, 933 hydropower workers are listed among the missing, while 589 foreigners—including trekkers and pilgrims heading to Mount Kailash—remain unaccounted for. The Isha Foundation, led by Indian guru Sadhguru, confirmed that 80 of its members were on a group trip in the area and that no survivors had been reported at the immigration office. In Nuwakot district, residents like Buddhi Ram Dangol have described how “all the settlements near the river were swept away,” and families such as that of Kalka Sharda are still searching for missing relatives at army bases serving as rescue hubs.

International aid has begun to flow. The United States and Canada each pledged $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance, the United Kingdom offered $6.8 million, and the United Nations released $2.5 million in emergency funding. The European Union committed $2.3 million, while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced over $1 million and launched a $31 million emergency appeal. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has called for specialized support, including heavy‑lift drones, forensic testing kits, and freezer units to preserve bodies that may decompose rapidly in floodwater.

UN climate chief Simon Steill described the event as a “devastating reminder of how fragile these mountain environments can be,” underscoring the broader implications of climate change for Himalayan glaciers. Meanwhile, Chinese and Nepali foreign ministers have agreed to share satellite and hydrological data to improve forecasting and response.

Rescue operations in Tibet have been temporarily paused at Gyirong due to the risk of further flooding from a newly formed lake. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the lake was “discharging naturally” and had been “essentially drained,” citing China’s Ministry of Water Resources. According to Xinhua, 2,141 rescuers were deployed near Gyirong, with more than 500 in the worst‑hit area.

As of Sunday, Nepal reported 734 deaths and 2,498 missing, including hundreds of foreigners. Across the border in Tibet, 16 people died and 546 remain missing, while 555 tourists and 499 Chinese residents have been evacuated. In India, authorities recovered seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal, believed to be flood victims.

The flood has left survivors facing an uncertain future, as entire settlements have been wiped out and the risk of secondary flooding from the new lake remains. Reconstruction costs are expected to run into billions of dollars, and the international community’s financial support will be critical to Nepal’s recovery efforts.

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