The death toll from massive flash floods in Nepal rose to 270 on Thursday, with rescuers searching for more than 800 people still missing after one of the country’s worst disasters in recent years. The floods struck central Nepal on Wednesday after an ice-rock avalanche blocked the Lhende tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, triggering a powerful surge of water and debris downstream.

The disaster has caused widespread destruction across the affected region, with homes, roads and bridges swept away by floodwaters. Officials said at least 579 of those reported missing were tourists, while nearly 300 Indian tourists were among those unaccounted for.

Timure Bears Brunt Of Devastation

The flash floods first struck Timure, a border town in Rasuwa district near the Nepal-Tibet border, before spreading into other parts of central Nepal. The scale of the destruction has left families searching hospitals and affected areas for missing relatives.

Among those who lost family members was 38-year-old Giri Lal, who lost his wife, two sons and two daughters when the flood swept through Timure. Lal, who works as a truck driver for the local waste management office, is undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Kathmandu, around 160 km from Timure.

Witnesses described the sudden force of the flood as resembling an earthquake. One eyewitness told the Nepal News web portal that news of the disaster spread while he was having breakfast.

“I was at home this morning. While I was eating breakfast at around 8:40 am, news came that a flood had hit Timure. I heard people saying, ‘Timure is completely gone, nothing is left’.”

Describing the destruction, he added, “It felt like an earthquake was happening. It was impossible to figure out what was taking place. Right before our eyes, the market and the settlement were devastated.”

Hundreds Of Tourists Still Missing

Rescue teams continued moving into the affected areas as the extent of the damage became clearer. Videos circulating on social media showed buildings, people and animals being carried away by torrents of mud and water several feet high.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said more than 800 people remained missing. Officials said at least 579 of those missing were tourists.

Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said nearly 300 Indian tourists were among those reported missing. Most were believed to have been travelling towards Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet and Gosainkunda in Nepal.

The disaster has also left families desperately trying to locate relatives. Outside the emergency section of Bharatpur Hospital, Lipa Sapkota was searching for her brother Sabi, who has been missing since Wednesday morning.

“We have been showing their pictures to people and asking if anyone has seen them,” she said. Speaking to Setopati.com, Sapkota added, “There were some dead bodies, but they were not easy to identify because of their condition.”

Roads And Bridges Damaged Across Central Nepal

The floods have caused extensive damage to transport infrastructure across central Nepal. Authorities reported that 35 motorable bridges and 45 suspension bridges had been damaged or destroyed.

Around 40 km of black-topped roads were also affected, further complicating access to areas hit by the floods and making rescue operations more difficult.

With the death toll reaching 270 and more than 800 people still missing, rescue teams continue to search through devastated settlements and infrastructure as families await information about their relatives.

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