BURNHAM VOWS UK SUPPORT FOR NEPAL – PM pledges British support as deadly Nepal flash floods leave hundreds dead
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged Britain’s support for Nepal following a catastrophic flash flood that has killed hundreds and left more than 1,000 people missing across Nepal and neighbouring China.
Rescuers are searching through debris-strewn valleys and hillsides as helicopters deliver emergency supplies to thousands of people cut off by the disaster. Burnham said Britain would stand by Nepal, recalling the country’s support for the UK during previous crises.
The flash flood was triggered after a wall of ice, mud and rock collapsed into a mountain river, sending a powerful surge of water through communities and along a major road linking Kathmandu with Lhasa in Tibet. The route is used by trekkers and pilgrims.
Nepalese authorities are using helicopters to search for survivors, while dozens of bodies have reportedly been swept downstream into the plains. Police have warned the official death toll is expected to rise beyond 270, while local media reports suggest as many as 332 bodies have been recovered.
The scale of the destruction has left roads and communities cut off, with rescue teams facing difficult conditions as they continue searching for those still missing.
