Private power producers in Nepal have questioned the government's response to a series of floods and mudslides, alleging that delays in accepting international aid hindered rescue efforts for hundreds of workers. According to a Monday statement from Nepal’s disaster management department, the confirmed death toll has reached 903, while 4,247 people remain missing. The U.S. State Department reported Sunday that at least 85 American citizens are among those missing.
The disaster was triggered last week by an ice-and-rock avalanche that buried Himalayan villages near the border of Nepal and Tibet. Landslides resulting from the event blocked nine hydropower tunnels under construction in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Officials report that 933 workers from Nepal, China, and South Korea are trapped inside these structures.
Bhim Gautam, CEO of the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal, stated that the country lacked the specialized equipment and expertise required for deep tunnel rescues. Gautam alleged that industry leaders had to pressure the government to allow foreign rescue teams into the country, noting that approval for teams from China, India, and Australia was only granted late last week. While Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle previously denied claims that foreign help was rejected, Prime Minister Balen Shah said Sunday that international experts from India, China, and South Korea are now working alongside the Nepali army and police.
Across the border, the Chinese foreign ministry on Monday denied allegations that officials ignored early warning signs or underreported casualties. The ministry maintained that its communication regarding the mudslides was transparent. As of Saturday, Chinese state media reported 16 confirmed deaths and 546 people missing, figures that have not been updated for more than 48 hours.