India has sent its fifth relief shipment to flood-hit Nepal as rescue and relief operations continue following the catastrophic Himalayan glacial floods. The latest aid flight carried an 11-member rescue team, specialised equipment and 5.5 tonnes of medical supplies.

The disaster, which began on August 26, followed a series of events in the high Himalayas. A glacial collapse sent large amounts of rock, ice and meltwater into the valleys below, triggering powerful floods downstream.

Scientists studying satellite imagery said the collapse appears to have involved the failure of bedrock beneath a glacier in the Himalayan region. The rockfall was powerful enough to register as a magnitude 5.2 seismic event.

The resulting surge of water and debris entered rivers flowing through valleys in Tibet and Nepal, causing water levels to rise rapidly. Floodwaters then swept through communities, damaging or destroying homes, buildings, roads and bridges while carrying mud and rocks downstream.

The death count from the disaster has crossed 1,000, while nearly 4,500 people remain unaccounted for as rescue teams continue operations across Nepal.

Amid the ongoing crisis, Nepal has also urged international travellers not to abandon the Himalayas. The country has declared itself open for tourism while assessing the human and economic impact of the floods.

"Our mountain trails and trekking routes are still waiting for you," Tourism Minister Khadak Raj Paudel said in a video message on Facebook, using the hashtag #NepalCalling. "Your coming to Nepal this time does not mean only a holiday. It's a big support to the country fighting this catastrophic tragedy of flash floods."

The appeal comes as images of destroyed villages, roads and bridges, along with reports of deaths following the floods, raise concerns about the impact on Nepal's tourism sector. While several parts of the country have been affected, other tourist destinations remain largely untouched by the disaster.

Nepal's tourism authorities are therefore seeking continued international support and visitor confidence as rescue operations remain underway and the country works to assess the wider impact of the floods.