Kathmandu [Nepal], August 29 – Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed condolences to Nepal over the deaths and destruction caused by severe flooding in the country’s northeastern region.
Putin sent message to Nepalese President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Balendra Shah following the disaster according to a statement posted on the Kremlin’s website.
“Please accept my deepest condolences on the numerous human casualties and severe destruction caused by mudslides and floods in the northeastern regions of your country,” Putin said.
He added that Russia shared the grief of the Nepalese people and conveyed sympathy to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives. He also wished those affected by the disaster a speedy recovery.
The flooding struck northern Nepal on Wednesday morning. Preliminary information suggests the disaster was triggered by a snow and rock avalanche near the Nepal-China border about 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
According to the latest reports search teams have recovered 616 bodies while hundreds of people remain missing.
Rescue and search operations are continuing in the affected areas as authorities work to locate those still unaccounted for and assist survivors.
