Toll in Nepal-China flash floods may reach 10,000, says minister
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The toll in the flash flood and mudslide in Nepal and China, which occurred on August 26, is expected to reach 10,000, The Indian Express quoted Nepal Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle as saying on Saturday.
The toll had reached 1,411 and 5,875 were missing as of Saturday, said Nepal’s disaster management authority.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Wagle said that those dead and missing included pilgrims, tourists, traders and small businessmen.
He also said that Nepal’s energy infrastructure had been severely hit by the floods, reported The Indian Express.
The country’s energy ministry had earlier stated that the floods had impacted 13 hydropower plants, including several under-construction projects, as well as a solar power plant.
The 14-megawatt Devighat hydropower plant, which supplied electricity to India, was also affected, The Indian Express had reported on August 28.
Last week, the Indian government approved Nepal’s request for an early import of electricity to offset the shortfall caused by the disaster. India will export 654 megawatts of electricity for 18 hours a day from September 13 to December 31 under the agreement.
The floods had occurred in the Rasuwa district along Nepal’s northern border with China. The mountainous district is located about 120 km north of Kathmandu. As there was no rainfall in the area, residents did not have a warning about the deluge.
The United States Geological Survey...