This Was No Ordinary Flood. It Was a Himalayan Tsunami, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Says

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal says the disaster in the country’s northern districts defied the ordinary meaning of flooding. Waves reached 20 to 30 meters and moved at speeds of up to 180 kilometres per hour, he said, giving the event what he called a “Himalayan Tsunami” scale.

The damage extends across ten municipalities and 30 to 32 wards in Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Dhading, with further destruction downstream in Gorkha and Chitwan. Early assessments point to tens of thousands of damaged homes, badly affected schools and hydropower projects worth billions of rupees.

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This was not a standard flood.

Khanal rejected criticism that Nepal delayed seeking foreign help. He said the government initially focused on saving people on the surface after the disaster rapidly moved toward Dhading. The prime minister convened the National Disaster Council by 11 a.m., while security forces began search-and-rescue operations.

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Himalayan Tsunami

The rescue challenge changed on the second day, when teams assessing buried hydropower facilities reported a need for specialized tunnel support. High-altitude weather and transport constraints meant airlift was the only viable option. An Indian team arrived by the evening of the third day, a Chinese team reached the area the following afternoon, and a South Korean team began work at the Upper Trishuli site.

Rescuers are searching sites including the Trishuli 3A and Chilime hydropower tunnels. Khanal said Nepal must maintain hope and exhaust every possibility of finding survivors. He also framed the disaster as a reason to change Nepal’s diplomatic approach, from requesting humanitarian aid to demanding legal climate compensation.

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We must maintain hope and exhaust every possibility.