Nepal floods devastate Himalayan region

A catastrophic flash flood, triggered by a glacier collapse, has devastated parts of Nepal and the China border region. The disaster occurred when a glacier broke off from Langtang Lirung mountain in Langtang National Park. The collapse was caused by glacial ice and rock plunging into the Lhende Khola. The impact temporarily dammed the river, leading to a powerful surge of water, mud, and debris that thundered downstream.The torrent of water rose rapidly, by as much as nine meters in just thirty minutes, giving residents little time to escape. Floods swept away communities, damaging homes, roads, bridges, and hydropower projects in several Nepali districts. Drone footage shows buildings buried and vehicles submerged under thick mud.Authorities report at least 332 people have died, including fourteen children, with the death toll expected to rise. More than 1,300 people remain missing across Nepal and Tibet, China. Among the missing are hundreds of foreign nationals, including Americans, and two hundred eighty-eight Indian pilgrims. Rescuers are intensifying search operations, with military helicopters deployed to evacuate survivors from cut-off areas. Rescued tourists and survivors are gathering at a military training center.Experts link the glacier collapse to rapid snowmelt and Himalayan warming, increasing disaster risk. Officials have issued warnings of fresh flooding risks due to barrier lakes forming upstream. The disaster highlights the instability of the Himalayan ice system, threatening communities and water supplies in this densely populated region.