Nepal flash flood from Tibet kills 72, leaves 133 Indians missing

A Tibet-origin flash flood tore through central Nepal, killing 72 and leaving hundreds missing. Rescuers are racing against time as river risks persist and roads, bridges and power projects lie shattered.

In Short

• Satellite studies linked the deluge to an ice avalanche near border
• Rasuwa was worst hit as towns, roads and customs facilities vanished
• At least thirteen hydropower projects suffered damage, disrupting key energy infrastructure

At least 72 people were killed and nearly 500 were missing, including 133 Indians, after a torrential flash flood originating in Tibet tore through parts of central Nepal on Wednesday. The deluge devastated towns and villages, washed away bridges and damaged at least a dozen hydropower projects.

Officials said the flood hit around 9 am local time and moved through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, affecting several districts. Preliminary satellite-based studies said the flash flood was caused by an ice avalanche triggered by an unstable mountain rock mass near the Nepal-Tibet border. Rescue and relief operations were under way, but authorities warned that the risk had not yet eased.

The flood first struck Rasuwa and Dhading districts on the Tibet border and later spread to Nuwakot and Chitwan, damaging at least four permanent bridges and a few temporary ones. Rasuwa, near the Tibet border, is about 125 kilometres northeast of Kathmandu.

Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said the massive flood entered the Trishuli river through the Bhote Koshi at Timure after a rockslide and swelling in the Lhende river on the Nepal-Tibet border. The Kathmandu Post quoted climate researcher Rijan Bhakta Kayastha as saying an earthquake had also occurred on the Tibetan side around the same time. The newspaper, citing the US Geological Survey, said a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Tibetan territory at 8:37 am, about 47 kilometres north of Gosainkunda.

Quoting the NDRRMA, the Kathmandu Post reported that 72 bodies had been recovered across seven districts by Wednesday evening: one in Rasuwa, 11 in Nuwakot, 18 in Dhading, 28 in Chitwan, nine in Gorkha, four in Tanahu and one in Nawalparasi East. Rajendra Prasad Dhamala, spokesperson at the Bagmati Province Police Office, said 93 people had been rescued from different affected areas. Of them, 30 were undergoing treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told the House of Representatives that nearly 400 people were missing, including 133 Indians and 37 NRIs. He also said 80 security personnel, including 44 Nepal Army personnel, were missing from various locations. Separately, the Nepal Tourism Board said 341 foreign tourists and pilgrims were missing in Rasuwa district, along with 62 Nepali nationals. The board said the foreign travellers included people from India, the US, Malaysia, the UK, South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands. Samrat Tours and Travel said at least 59 Indians were pilgrims headed for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.

Nepal's Flood Forecasting Division said on X in the afternoon, "According to information received from the Chinese side, since the lake at the river blockage site has not yet been fully drained, the risk remains in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli areas", and asked people to stay away from the rivers and remain in safe places. Later, the NDRRMA said on X, "Even though the lake has not been fully drained at the site where the river is blocked, the risk persists in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli areas, and people are urged to stay away from the river and remain in safe locations until the next update is issued." The NDRRM also asked people living near river banks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan and Gorkha to stay on high alert and take safety measures until further notice.

Rasuwa was the worst-hit district. Videos widely shared on social media appeared to show a massive wall of water at the Rasuwagadhi checkpost on the Nepal-China border sweeping over a two-storey building and carrying away everything in its path. Other images and videos showed extensive damage in settlements along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Rasuwa Assistant Chief District Officer Dhruva Prasad Adhikari said the scale of the flooding was unusually large and that two settlements suffered significant damage. Chief Customs Officer Rajendra Dhungana said numerous vehicles and goods at the customs premises were swept away and a recently built bridge was destroyed at the border trade point.

The Kathmandu Post said flooding in the Bhote Koshi washed away the 42-kilometre road linking Betrawati in Nuwakot with the Rasuwagadhi border crossing in Rasuwa. It quoted department of roads spokesperson Shubharaj Neupane as saying floodwaters had destroyed the road at multiple points and washed away several concrete bridges.

The Independent Power Producers' Association Nepal said eight operating hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 354 MW and five under-construction projects in Nuwakot and Rasuwa were damaged. The major operating projects affected included the 111 MW Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, 78 MW Sanjen Khola Hydropower Project and 60 MW Upper Trishuli 3A. The Kathmandu Post quoted Uttargaya Rural Municipality deputy chair Chameli Gurung as saying around a dozen settlements, including Syaphrubesi, Betrawati, Mailung, Salletar, Shantibazar, Pairebesi, Khalti Basti, Sole, Trishuli and Battar, had been affected.

Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel were mobilised in the affected areas for rescue and relief work after an emergency meeting chaired by Balendra Shah to assess the situation. The Nepal Army said it had mobilised 12 helicopters for search and rescue operations. Six people were rescued from Syafrubesi, two from Mailung and four from Dhunche, all in Rasuwa district. The army also set up a treatment centre at Military Training Centre No 1 in Trishuli, where its medical personnel were providing emergency care. An MI17 helicopter equipped with an Emergency Medical Rescue Team was also sent to the district hospital in Trishuli, it said.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu issued emergency helpline numbers for Indian nationals affected by the flash floods and said people could contact +977 985 131 6807 or +977 970 910 7500. In one post on X, it said, "The Embassy of India has remained engaged with the relevant authorities of Government of Nepal for early rescue and relief for Indian nationals affected by the flash floods that took place in Nepal." In another, it said, "Rescue and relief efforts continue to be strengthened in coordination with the Government of Nepal." The Nepal Tourism Board also issued helpline numbers, including toll-free emergency number 1234, hotline 1144 and tourist police number 9851289445.

As rescue teams continued the search and authorities kept warning people to stay away from the rivers, the disaster left a wide trail of damage across central Nepal, with deaths, missing residents, pilgrims and tourists, destroyed roads and bridges, and damaged power projects. President Ramchandra Paudel expressed sorrow over the loss of life and property in Rasuwa and Nuwakot. Last year too, two catastrophic floods hit Bhotekoshi in Rasuwa, killing at least 10 people.

With PTI Inputs

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