Nepal, China Resume Himalayan Flood Rescue as Lake Threat Recedes

Rescue operations in the flood-hit Himalayan regions of Nepal and China resumed on Friday after a brief suspension, following assessments that an overflowing glacial lake no longer posed an immediate catastrophic threat. The decision allowed crews to return to the search for survivors and the recovery of victims from Wednesday's devastating flood.

The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse, has killed at least 547 people in Nepal and five in China's Tibet region. Nearly 1,000 more individuals remain missing across both countries. The flood unleashed a massive torrent of rock, ice, mud, and debris through mountain river systems, also creating a new barrier lake that continued to collect water.

On Friday, the lake's volume swelled to over 2.5 million cubic metres, up from an estimated 1.5-2 million cubic metres the previous day. The overflow into the Lhende Khola and Trishuli rivers sparked panic, leading to a roughly three-hour halt in rescue efforts. On the Chinese side, all personnel and vehicles were withdrawn to a safe area as a precaution. Both nations resumed work after determining the risk was manageable, with Nepal's army noting the water level rose only about 2 feet.

The floodwaters tore through villages and valleys, destroying power stations, roads, and bridges along a key route connecting Kathmandu with Lhasa. Among the missing are at least 540 foreigners, many of them Indian Hindu pilgrims travelling to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. The Red Cross estimates over 90,000 people have been affected, with relief supply trucks initially blocked after the lake breached its banks.

In Beijing, a Politburo meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping directed rescue efforts, calling for scientifically formulated search plans and intensified monitoring of glacier lakes and landslide risks. The meeting also emphasised emergency aid to Nepal and closer international disaster cooperation. Premier Li Qiang visited the stricken Gyirong area on Thursday, underscoring the disaster's high priority for the government. Chinese rescuers had yet to reach the worst-hit border crossing by Thursday evening as crews cleared debris from access roads.

In Nepal, helicopter teams have been airlifting stranded residents and dropping supplies, while ground crews with sniffer dogs recover bodies. One survivor, Dibga Tamang, airlifted from Rasuwa, said, "All of our people have gone. They are dead. I have no one left waiting for me." Families have gathered at army bases seeking news of missing relatives.

Internationally, relatives are desperate for information. Sneha Sudhir, whose husband was among a group of American trekkers missing, said, "Where are they?" The group of men from northern Virginia is among dozens of US citizens unaccounted for. President Donald Trump offered US aid, describing the destruction as unprecedented, with strong buildings "wiped out like they were toothpicks."

Despite offers of assistance from several nations, including India, China, the US, and the UK, Nepal has declined foreign search-and-rescue help, stating it is unnecessary. A South Korean rapid response team is in Kathmandu but has not been deployed pending a government decision.