Family to perform symbolic funeral for engineer missing in Bhote Koshi flood

The family of Milan Kharel, an engineering geologist missing since a devastating flood in the Bhote Koshi River, has decided to perform a symbolic funeral using a Kush effigy. This decision comes after extensive searches for Kharel, who was working as an engineering geologist on the 216-megawatt Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, yielded no information about his whereabouts or discovery of his body.Kharel went missing on Bhadra 10 (BS) after a flood, triggered by a glacial rockfall from the Tibetan side, entered the Bhote Koshi River at approximately 9:15 AM. His family has now abandoned hope of his return.The Bhote Koshi River experienced a sudden surge in water levels at 2:14 AM on Bhadra 10 (BS). The floodwaters reached Devghat in the Narayani River by 3:20 PM the same day. According to a technical report from the Flood Forecasting Division, the water level at the Kalikhola water measurement station peaked at 12.3 meters, exceeding the danger mark of 12.1 meters.The flood caused significant human and material damage in Rasuwa district. As of Bhadra 11 (BS), Nepal Police confirmed 177 fatalities in Rasuwa alone. Among the deceased were 41 women, 69 men, 10 girls, 7 boys, and 50 unidentified individuals. The bodies of two men were recovered in Rasuwa.The District Administration Office, Rasuwa, reported that the flood swept away 41 kilometers of roads, six concrete bridges, eight Bailey bridges, and ten suspension bridges. Additionally, 28 government and public buildings, eight community schools, three private schools, 14 banks and financial institutions, one petrol pump, and 1,500 private homes were damaged.Eight hydropower projects constructed on the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers and Langtang Khola were completely destroyed. These projects include the 111-megawatt Rasuwagadhi, 120-megawatt Bhote Koshi, 20-megawatt Chilime, 20-megawatt Langtang Khola, 216-megawatt Upper Trishuli-1, 5-megawatt Mailung Khola, 60-megawatt Upper Trishuli 3 ‘A’, and 37.3-megawatt Trishuli 3 ‘B’.The primary cause of the flood is believed to be a glacial rockfall into a river in the Tibetan region, approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border point along the Nepal-China border. However, it is still unclear whether the river was dammed to form a lake or the exact cause of the landslide.The Flood Forecasting Division issued a bulletin at 8:00 AM on Bhadra 10 (BS), warning of significantly increased water levels in the Trishuli and Betrawati rivers and a high risk of flash floods in rivers flowing through Dolakha, Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Lamjung, and Tanahun districts. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority also urged residents in riverside areas to remain vigilant and move to safe locations.The Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, where Milan Kharel was employed, is promoted by Nepal Water and Energy Development Company. Korea South-East Power (KOEN) is the main investor, and the construction contract was awarded to the Korean company Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction. The project was inaugurated on Bhadra 26 (BS) by Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet.