A devastating glacier collapse in Nepal’s Rasuwa district has triggered a massive flash flood, leaving at least 579 dead and nearly 2,500 people missing, including several British nationals. The disaster occurred when a large glacier broke off a snow-capped mountain, sending a torrent of ice, rock, mud, and water thundering down the valley and across the border into Tibet.
Among those unaccounted for is a family of four from Cobham, Surrey. The Sahus—Santosh, 46, a businessman; his wife Surabhi, 44, a former banker and runner-up in Mrs India UK; and their two children, Spandan, 18, and Syna, 13—were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for Hindus and Buddhists located in Tibetan-controlled China. The family had last been heard from shortly after crossing the border into Tibet. Friends and neighbors describe the Sahus as a close-knit, high-achieving family, with Mr. Sahu operating a successful pharmaceutical company after previously running a London-based technology firm with his wife.
The Sahus were part of a group travelling with the tour operator Alpine Eco Tours. Other British citizens remain missing, including Praveen Atmakur, 54, who led a group of 77 pilgrims to Mount Kailash; his wife Manjula, an NHS psychiatry consultant, and their son have since traveled to Nepal to join the search. Additional missing Britons include Nelly Chhetri, 18, and her mother Yashika Basnet, 56, from Maidstone, Kent, and Leena Bector, 54, from Slough.
Rescue operations face significant challenges as the Rasuwa district is reported to be “physically totally disconnected,” with roads and bridges washed away and millions of tons of debris blocking access routes. Helicopters have been used in attempts to reach survivors and retrieve bodies, while a 1,200-strong army team is assisting in search and rescue efforts. Nepali authorities have mobilized around 15,000 military and rescue personnel, but the scale of destruction has severely hampered efforts.
The Nepalese government and Red Cross estimate that about 93,000 people need urgent assistance. There are ongoing fears of a secondary disaster, as a newly formed lake caused by the landslide threatens to breach its banks, prompting mass evacuations along the Trishuli River valley.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed a rapid response team was deployed to Nepal to support British nationals and coordinate with local authorities. However, some relatives of the missing have expressed frustration over delayed information sharing. Manjula Atmakur, whose husband Praveen remains missing, criticized the British government, saying they felt let down due to a lack of timely updates and reliance on information from Chinese authorities.
Meanwhile, families of dozens of missing Britons continue to arrive in Kathmandu to support search efforts. The human toll is compounded by the remote and rugged terrain, making rescue missions hazardous and slow. Bodies have been found as far as hundreds of miles downstream, underscoring the scale and force of the floodwaters.
Authorities on both sides of the Nepal-China border are urging vigilance as the situation remains volatile, with the risk of further flooding and landslides. Rescue teams are working under difficult conditions to find survivors and recover the missing amidst the devastation caused by this rare but catastrophic natural disaster.