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On the other hand, the Nepal government has now decided to allow limited entry of international search and rescue teams in the Bhotekoshi flash flood affected areas. Earlier, the government had refused to allow foreign rescue teams, but this decision had to be changed when international pressure increased after citizens of many countries went missing.

After all, why did the Nepal government change its decision?

A senior Nepal government official told The Kathmandu Post that huge pressure was exerted from the international community, as citizens of many countries are also missing in this flood. “We received strong pressure from the international community to allow at least search and rescue teams and some experts to come as their citizens are also missing in the floods. Now we are allowing a limited number of experts in some selected areas,” the official said.

The Nepal government had said on Wednesday that its own relief and rescue teams are capable of handling the situation and there is no need for foreign search and rescue teams. However, after just one day, the government changed its decision and decided to seek special technical assistance.

Which countries will help Nepal?

Now experts from India, China, Australia and South Korea will reach Nepal and cooperate in relief work.

In what tasks will foreign experts help?

Based on an assessment by Nepal’s National Disaster Management Centre, an inter-ministerial coordination committee has approved assistance to the four countries. Experts and technicians from India, China, Australia and South Korea will mainly help in rescue operations of people trapped in tunnels, DNA testing and forensic investigation and identification of dead bodies. Nepal government has made it clear that foreign aid will be limited only to special technical areas.

How much devastation on the banks of Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers?

Flash flood completely destroyed many villages and settlements situated on the banks of Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers of Nepal. Till Friday, the death toll in Nepal was 579, while 7 people died in Tibet. In this way the total number of deaths in both the countries reached 586. Eight districts of Nepal have suffered the most damage. At the same time, floods have also caused huge devastation in Gyirong County of Tibet region of China.

According to Nepal’s disaster agencies, initially 977 people were reported missing, but on Friday this number increased to 1,924. Apart from this, 554 people are still reported missing in Gyirong County of Tibet. This means that including Nepal and Tibet, more than 2,400 people are still missing.

A large number of these are also foreign citizens. According to the latest records of Nepal Tourism Board, earlier 517 foreign nationals were reported missing, while in later updates this number reached at least 540. A large number of these foreign nationals are Hindu devotees who were going on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.

Citizens of how many countries are missing?

According to Nepal Tourism Board, citizens of 31 countries are missing after this disaster. Among foreign nationals, the maximum number of Indian citizens are missing. The figures of missing foreign nationals are as follows-

• Indian Citizen- 178
• US Citizen – 65
• Ukrainian citizen- 53
• Australian Citizen- 35
• British Citizen- 33

However, Nepal’s post-disaster statistics put the number of foreign missing people at 540, while Nepal Tourism Board records had earlier mentioned 517 foreign nationals.

Destructive flood caused by breaking of glacier..

According to the US Geological Survey, this terrible disaster started with the breakage of a glacier. After the collapse of the glacier, a huge flood of ice, rocks, mud and debris rapidly flowed into the Himalayan river system. The debris created immense pressure in the river valleys, causing sudden and devastating flash floods in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river areas.