33 British Nationals Are Missing In Nepal's Devastating Flash Floods — And Families Are Racing To Find Them

Families across the UK are desperately booking flights to Nepal after 33 British nationals were reported missing in the catastrophic flash floods that have devastated the Nepal-Tibet border region.

At least 584 people are confirmed dead and nearly 2,000 remain missing after a massive section of glacier broke loose in the Himalayas on Wednesday morning, unleashing a deadly surge of water, mud, rock and ice that obliterated entire villages in minutes.

And now rescuers are racing against time — because there's a terrifying risk of a second wave of flooding.

The Scale Is Unthinkable

The flash floods hit Nepal's Rasuwa district on Wednesday after an enormous glacier collapsed in Langtang National Park, sending torrents thundering down rivers and valleys with devastating force.

Survivors described clinging to buildings and trees as the water rushed over them. Entire communities have been wiped off the map — roads, bridges, power stations, homes, all gone.

According to the Red Cross, at least 93,000 people have been affected and are in "great need." The death toll stands at 584 — 579 in Nepal and five in Tibet — but authorities warn that number will rise as rescue teams reach the hardest-hit areas.

More than 40 bridges have been destroyed or badly damaged, and over 40km of road has been completely wiped out, the UN resident coordinator for Nepal said.

Bodies have been found hundreds of miles downstream, near the Indian border.

33 Britons Still Missing

Among the nearly 2,000 people unaccounted for are 33 UK nationals — many of them on religious pilgrimages to Mount Kailash, a sacred Hindu and Buddhist site in Tibet.

The BBC reports that families are flying out to Kathmandu to help with the search, though communication lines remain down across much of the disaster zone.

Neetu Goyal Tiwari, 51, was completing her "dream" pilgrimage when the floods hit. Her brother Naresh Goyal told the BBC: "Please help us find her. We are all very scared."

A family of four from Surrey are also missing: 18-year-old A-level student Spandan Sahu, his parents Santosh and Surabhi, and his 13-year-old sister Syna.

NHS psychiatrist Pravin Atmakur, 54, was leading a group of 77 pilgrims when disaster struck. His wife Manjula has travelled to Nepal to search for him.

Sarada Simkhada, a senior nurse from Kent, lost contact with her family while on the pilgrimage. Her brother wrote on social media: "My dear sister, wherever you are, please stay strong."

The Guardian reports that tour operators have lost contact with entire groups — Alpine Eco Trek can't reach 12 Britons aged 13 to 65, while Fishtail Tours and Travels confirmed 27 travellers remain unaccounted for.

And Then It Got Worse

On Friday morning, rescue operations were forced to suspend after Chinese and Nepali authorities issued urgent warnings about a second wave of flooding.

A dam of debris near the Tibet-Nepal border began overflowing, creating an artificial lake that could burst at any moment and send more torrents downstream.

Residents who had tried to return to what was left of their homes were told to evacuate immediately and were seen rushing up hillsides to escape the rising water, according to The Guardian.

Rescue workers had to be moved from the area. Army helicopters that had been flying in and out every five minutes bringing traumatised survivors to safety were grounded.

In Bidur, once a bustling town on the banks of the Trishuli River, most homes were washed away. The mangled remains of a bank, a government office and an ATM booth were among the few structures left standing — all submerged in mud.

Officials said there were bodies inside the buildings but it was too dangerous to recover them.

The UK Government Response

The UK is deploying a rapid response team to Nepal to support British nationals affected by the disaster. The specially-trained crisis team is expected to arrive in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged £5m in humanitarian support for relief and recovery efforts, the BBC reports.

But some families say they feel let down by the response. Manjula Atmakur, whose husband is among the missing, told The Telegraph she was disappointed by the British government's handling of the crisis.

Several countries including India, China, the US, Japan and South Korea have offered search and rescue teams, but Nepal has so far said it doesn't need foreign assistance as its own security agencies handle the operation.

What Happens Next

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned that the trauma of the event is "enormous."

"Thousands of homes have been destroyed or suffered significant damage," David Fisher, the IFRC head of delegation for Nepal, said. "The death toll is very high and unfortunately likely to continue to rise."

Climate experts say Nepal's steep slopes and lush valleys are especially vulnerable to flooding and landslides, and extreme weather events have become more common due to warming caused by human-driven climate change.

For now, families in the UK can only wait — and hope.

Sources:

• BBC News: What we know about the 33 British nationals missing in Nepal
• The Guardian: Families of 33 missing Britons rush to Nepal as fears grow of more floods
• The Guardian: At least 93,000 'in great need' after Nepal-Tibet flash floods, says Red Cross

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