A couple from the San Francisco Bay Area survived a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal on a Wednesday after a Himalayan glacier collapsed. Anjana Raja and Pattabiraman Venkatesan, who were on a pilgrimage to Tibet, reported witnessing a large surge of dark water and debris while traveling by bus in the Rasuwa District near the Nepal-China border. The couple escaped the bus and climbed a nearby mountain, spending the night in a goat shed before being airlifted the following day.
The disaster occurred when a glacier in the Himalayas collapsed, sending torrents of water and debris into the valleys below. The surge first struck the village of Timure. The flooding destroyed homes and infrastructure along the Trishuli River corridor, leaving extensive debris deposits across the affected mountainous border region.
Reports indicate the flooding has killed nearly 600 people. As of Friday, an estimated 2,500 people are believed to be missing. The U.S. State Department said Friday that approximately 90 Americans are estimated to be among the missing. Rescue crews continue to search the area for survivors.
Residents in the affected valleys, such as the Rasuwa District, face the loss of housing and local infrastructure. Witnesses reported seeing homes swept away by the water, which was estimated to be 60 to 70 feet high. The flooding impacted the Trishuli River corridor, a key geographical feature in the Nuwakot District.
The event highlights the physical risks to communities and tourists in the high Himalayas due to glacial instability. As of Friday, search and rescue operations remain active. Precise dates for the restoration of infrastructure in the border region have not yet been reported.