New Delhi: A massive glacier and rock collapse in the Himalayas was accidentally captured by a drone, providing a rare glimpse of the event believed to have preceded devastating flash floods in Nepal and Tibet.
The footage, recorded by a Chinese photographer’s drone near Nepal’s Langtang Lirung peak, shows a huge mass of bedrock and glacier ice breaking away from a steep mountain slope. Langtang Lirung rises to more than 7,200 metres above sea level.
BBC Verify Authenticates Footage
The footage has been authenticated by BBC Verify. According to the verification, the location shown in the video corresponds with the direction taken by the floodwaters that later moved through the Trishuli river system. the drone accidentally captured the aftermath of the initial glacier collapse.
Glacier Collapse Triggered Massive Floods
After breaking away from the mountain slope, the enormous mass of ice, rock, mud and debris crashed into a valley around 1,200 metres below. The impact triggered flash floods and caused the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers to swell dramatically.
The disaster caused widespread destruction across affected areas of Nepal and Tibet, with homes, roads and infrastructure damaged by the powerful floodwaters.
Hundreds Killed, Thousands Missing
According to the figures cited in the report, the floods killed 903 people in Nepal and 16 in Tibet on August 26. More than 4,500 people were reported missing, with the majority of those missing in Nepal.
The scale of the disaster has made rescue and assessment operations extremely difficult, particularly because of challenging weather conditions and mountainous terrain.
Nepal PM Calls Disaster ‘Unimaginable and Heartbreaking’
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the situation as an “unimaginable and heartbreaking” natural disaster.
Shah said that the devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa had made it extremely difficult for authorities to establish the complete extent of the loss of life, property and infrastructure.
He said adverse weather, difficult terrain and continuing risks were complicating the assessment, but authorities were continuing their efforts to protect citizens and respond to the crisis.
The Nepalese Prime Minister also appealed for unity and collective efforts to overcome the disaster.