Dharamsala, Aug 27 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday said he was saddened over the devastating floods in the Rasuwa region of Nepal and Kyirong in Tibet, resulting in loss of life and heavy structural damage.

“I am saddened to learn of the devastating floods in the Rasuwa region of Nepal and Kyirong in Tibet, resulting in loss of life and heavy structural damage. I pray for all those who have lost their lives, and offer my sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved and to all those affected by this tragedy,” the Nobel Peace Laureate said in a statement.

He said since the region has seen calamities in the past as well, these are certainly symptoms of a deeper underlying cause — whether climate change or other factors.

“I hope that appropriate follow-up measures will be taken, wherever possible, to help ensure that such disasters do not recur,” the elderly Buddhist monk added.

The massive flood, originating in the Tibetan region, swept through the transboundary Bhote Koshi River, leaving a trail of destruction in Nepal.

The bodies of 162 people swept away by the flash flood in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River have been recovered as of Thursday morning, Nepal Police said. The remains were recovered from riverbanks in several downstream districts along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tanahu, Nawalparasi (East) and Nawalparasi West, said the police.

Most of the bodies were recovered in Chitwan, in Nepal’s southern plains.

The Nepali government said that hundreds of people, including foreign nationals, remained out of contact.

In a statement issued late Wednesday evening, the Prime Minister’s Office said that 44 Nepal Army personnel, 28 Nepal Police personnel deployed at various police posts and 13 Armed Police Force (APF) personnel working in the affected areas were out of contact. Likewise, 391 foreign tourists and 93 Nepali tourists have remained out of contact following the disaster. The officials have also confirmed that 133 Indians are missing.

–IANS

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