Nepal floods 'tragedy beyond words' - charity boss

The chief executive of a Berkshire-based charity coordinating relief efforts in Nepal has described the flash floods as a "tragedy beyond words".

The floods struck on Wednesday after a glacier collapse triggered landslides and sent torrents of mud, water and debris downstream.

The number of people killed in Nepal has risen to 579, according to the latest release by Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Officials say that around 4,000 people have been rescued.

Khalsa Aid International, based in Maidenhead, is providing emergency aid.

Chief executive Ravi Singh described it as a "very tough situation" and said they had got teams about to land in Nepal from India, with a focus on providing shelter.

"The locals in Nepal are stepping up, helping with food, water," he said.

"There are massive supplies coming from different areas and towns which are not affected."

He said one of the key challenges had been the mudslide, which had left a "huge area" covered in mud.

Singh said: "We didn't expect it. We know the people in Nepal very well. We were there 2015... it's deeply, deeply, sad.

"The tragedy is beyond words... and I think it shows the power of nature.

"Flash flooding is very, very powerful, very, very fast, and it's something that people don't realise. Once a flash flood hits, it takes everything with it."

On Friday, Nepalese authorities named 573 tourists who are still missing in the country and, despite fears of a second wave of flooding , search efforts have continued.

Fishtail Tours and Travels confirmed Leena Bector was among 27 travellers linked to the tour company who remain unaccounted for.

The missing Britons are among hundreds of people unaccounted for, with rescue efforts continuing in the Rasuwa district, which borders China's Tibet Autonomous Region.