Kathmandu : A massive flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border has killed at least eight people and left dozens missing, including several ...
Kathmandu : A massive flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border has killed at least eight people and left dozens missing, including several security personnel, following heavy destruction in Nepal's Rasuwa district and Tibet's Gyirong region.
The catastrophe was triggered by torrential flooding and landslides originating from the Tibetan stretch of the Bhote Koshi River. Severe impacts have been reported across Syabrubesi and Timure, where local authorities fear high casualties after entire villages and development sites were swept away.
Humanitarian Toll: Eight bodies have been recovered, while nine individuals remain officially missing. In addition, 33 security personnel—comprising 26 Nepal Police officers and seven Armed Police Force (APF) members—are unaccounted for, including nine APF officers previously deployed to Timure. Contact has also been lost with 14 staff members from the Rasuwa Customs Office.
Infrastructure & Power Loss: The flood completely destroyed the Timure Bazaar, local customs facilities, three police posts, and the newly built Friendship Bridge. Power outages have hit parts of the country after floodwaters damaged hydroelectric projects representing roughly 12% (~430 MW) of Nepal’s total generation capacity.
Downstream & Regional Destruction: In Nuwakot, about 60 homes near Trishuli Bazaar were swept away, two motorable bridges were damaged, and road access to Trishuli Hospital was cut off. Across the border in Gyirong (Tibet), severe landslides inflicted heavy casualties and completely severed regional transport and communication networks.
Rescue Operations & Regional Alerts
Emergency relief efforts are underway, with four military and eight private helicopters deployed to the affected zones. Although rising water levels have created hazardous landing conditions, joint teams from the Nepal Army and Police have rescued several survivors, including five individuals admitted to Chakra Dev Hospital and 12 evacuated by air.
Because the Bhote Koshi feeds into the Trishuli River—and eventually India's Gandak River—the Bihar state government has issued flood alerts across its border districts. Local authorities in Nepal have urged residents along riverbanks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading to evacuate to higher ground.
Investigators are evaluating whether the flood was triggered by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered intensified search-and-rescue operations near Gyirong Port alongside upgraded early-warning systems to prevent secondary disasters.
COMMENTS