New Delhi, August 30: The Indian Embassy in Beijing has announced that authorities in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China have launched two dedicated English-language helplines to assist families seeking information about missing foreign nationals following recent floods and landslides.
In a post on the social media platform ‘X’, the embassy stated, “In light of the recent floods and landslides in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), officials have set up two 24-hour English-language helplines to aid families wishing to obtain information about missing foreign citizens.”
The embassy has shared two hotline numbers for families to inquire about their missing relatives: 0086-891-6817165 and 0086-183-0802-6705.
This advisory comes as Tibet and neighboring Nepal face devastating natural disasters. A sudden flood and landslide triggered by a glacier break have severely impacted areas along the China-Nepal border.
So far, at least 16 fatalities have been reported in China, with 546 individuals still unaccounted for. Additionally, significant damage has been inflicted on roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure.
The disaster struck on August 26, when swift floodwaters and debris spread across affected regions. Many roads, bridges, and essential services were damaged, complicating access to several areas.
Meanwhile, in Nepal, authorities have issued new warnings as continuous adverse weather and flooding have raised water levels in major rivers.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) of Nepal issued a flood-related warning on Sunday, indicating that the water level of the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa district has risen further.
In a notice released on Sunday morning, the authority urged all individuals involved in search, rescue, and relief operations in affected districts such as Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Chitwan, as well as residents living along riverbanks, to remain vigilant.
According to the Flood Forecasting Division under Nepal’s Department of Water and Meteorology, the water level of the Trishuli River flowing through the lower section of the Bhotekoshi River in Dhading district has reached approximately three meters above normal levels.
Officials have appealed for special caution from those living along the riverbanks and personnel involved in rescue operations, as the risk of further flooding persists.
The English-language helplines initiated in Tibet could prove invaluable for families, particularly those living outside China, seeking information about foreign nationals missing in this disaster.
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