Nepal calls deadly floods a Himalayan Tsunami as toll crosses 1,250

Nepal's foreign minister called the devastating floods a Himalayan Tsunami and thanked global partners for support. The government is intensifying rescue efforts as leaders link the catastrophe to climate change.Stock photo used for illustrationNepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal on Thursday described the massive floods that have caused widespread devastation in the country as a "Himalayan Tsunami" and thanked neighbouring countries and the international community for their support and solidarity. He said the government's top priority was to save Nepalese and foreign nationals by intensifying search and rescue operations in the affected areas.His remarks came as Nepal continued to assess the scale of the disaster, which was triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26. The flash floods devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal, and the death toll rose to over 1,250 on Thursday, with more than 4,800 people still missing.While briefing diplomats based in Kathmandu about the devastation caused by the Bhotekoshi River floods, Khanal said, "I want to call the disaster the Himalayan Tsunami as we have not experienced such a massive disaster in our recent memory." Ambassadors of different countries, chiefs and representatives of diplomatic missions, and representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the United Nations and other international organisations attended the briefing.Expressing gratitude to neighbouring countries, friendly nations and the international community, Khanal said, "Nepal will continue close cooperation and collaboration with the international community in this regard." He also informed the diplomats about the government's search and rescue operations and the condition of foreign nationals after the disaster. Khanal's comments came days after an interview with a private television channel in which he identified China, the US and India as the world's three largest greenhouse gas emitters and said they have a "historical responsibility to compensate vulnerable nations like Nepal". He also said industrialised countries responsible for carbon emissions need to compensate Nepal, which has a negligible contribution to carbon emissions. Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Wednesday said the disaster's link to climate change must be strongly raised with the international community.Nepal has continued rescue efforts after the floods caused heavy destruction, while its leaders have thanked foreign partners for their support and raised the disaster's link to climate change with the international community. With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 3, 2026 15:40 IST